For over a decade spent in the corporate grind, I maintained a mental list of all the adventurous pursuits I would dive into if I ever broke free from the 9-to-5 routine. I can’t quite explain why the idea of purple hair and a nose ring seemed so tantalizing—perhaps it was the charm of rebellion. When I finally stepped away from the corporate world in 2010, I wasted no time in making those dreams a reality.
My first escapade involved learning how to do a backspin and showcasing it in public whenever I could. It wasn’t that my job had explicitly prevented me from doing it; I simply lacked the time to prioritize such whims. Fortunately, with my kids napping for three hours each day, I found the perfect opportunity to master the backspin. I even added a little flair at the end, resting my head on my hand like, “Hey, look at me!” Unfortunately, my backspin career met an abrupt end when I accidentally took out my husband’s colleague, a fifty-something doctor, during a work event. The last thing I needed was to be considered a liability!
Next on my list was adding some vibrant highlights to my hair. I went all out with pink, blue, and purple streaks—sometimes just a few, other times the entire head. When I showed up at a PTO meeting, I hoped my colorful locks screamed, “I’m ready to defy societal norms!” (At least until the color faded in 4-6 weeks.)
Then, I picked up the banjo. “Why the banjo?” people often ask. My answer? BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT MAY COME IN HANDY! Sometimes, I even send silly videos of myself playing to my husband at work—just to remind him how lucky he is to have married me.
More recently, I decided to get a nose ring, which took me years to muster the courage for. For one, I’m not a fan of pain, and I felt that altering my face was a significant decision that required serious contemplation. I had tried to get it done in the past, but fate had other plans. One night, my friend Lily and I drove to a piercing parlor, only to be chased around the parking lot by an overly enthusiastic piercer. As if that wasn’t enough, we ended up running over a possum. Clearly, that was not a night for making life-altering decisions!
A couple of weeks ago, when Lily texted me about getting a piercing, I knew the moment had come. We gathered our friend Marissa, who was up for a tattoo, and rolled up to the shop in my minivan, embodying every midlife crisis cliché imaginable. It was decided I would go first, especially after I had to sign a bunch of non-liability forms and then sit down with my head between my knees to stave off fainting. I realized I was prone to fainting when I got my tattoo, so I prepared myself.
Fortunately, I didn’t faint this time, though I did unleash a colorful assortment of words during the process. Adapting to my new nose ring has been a bit of a challenge—like yesterday during spinning class when I forgot it was there and wiped my face with a towel. It snagged, I yelped, and would have fallen off my bike had it not been for my clip-in shoes! The instructor assumed I was offering some sort of motivational battle cry and cheered me on. I think I’ll skip spinning for a bit.
So, what’s next on my list? Everything! As I approach my 42nd birthday, I’m acutely aware of how fleeting life can be. Making the most of each day and pursuing what truly excites me, even when it feels daunting, is my new mantra.
At my funeral, I want my kids to reminisce, “Look at her—she wasn’t afraid to take risks.” And they’ll add, “Yeah, she was brave, especially once she got past those fainting episodes.”
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In summary, life is too short to wait for the right moment. Embrace the things that make you feel alive, even if they scare you.
Keyphrase: embracing life’s adventures
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