Monday Musings: On Trying New Things, Even When It Feels Unfamiliar

Now, there is no sideline. You have to put yourself in the room on purpose.

I’ll admit, it feels a little awkward. Not terrible, just unfamiliar. Especially for an introvert like me (yes its true). You walk in, aware that everyone else seems to know where they belong, and you’re not quite sure where to stand or how long to linger. It reminds me of the first day at a new school, except now you have decades of life experience and still feel oddly unsure of yourself in that moment.

What’s different now is that friendships aren’t formed out of necessity. They’re formed out of choice. And choice requires more intention. You have to decide to go. Decide to introduce yourself. Decide to come back again, even if the first time feels inconclusive.

I don’t expect instant friendships. But I would like to find them over time. And familiarity… to recognize someone and be recognized in return. To have small conversations that feel a little less tentative each time.

That’s usually how it begins…with repetition and shared space. It may take longer now, but it’s still possible.

I’m curious how you’ve made friends at this stage of life. Did it happen naturally, or did you have to be more deliberate about putting yourself in new places?

I suspect many of us are figuring this out as we go.

Accupuncture

I’m also thinking about acupuncture.

I met a practitioner at a sound bath a few weeks ago and was fortunate to get an appointment with her last week. She’s also my daughter’s Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor, which made it easier to walk in and trust the process.

We spent time talking before anything began. Not just about my symptoms (of which there are many…), but about how I’ve been feeling overall. Once I was on the table, she placed the needles and checked my pulse frequently, watching how my body responded. At one point, she said that when she calmed one area, another would react. My system wasn’t settling all at once.

That sounded familiar.

The best part was certainly how I felt afterward. I was deeply calm. Not tired, just relaxed in a way that felt unfamiliar. I remember thinking I could easily lie down and nap, which never happens to me in the middle of the day.

It made me realize how accustomed I’ve become to carrying a low level of tension without noticing it. It had quietly become my normal.

Many years ago, I had an integrative medicine physician who was also trained in acupuncture, and I trusted her deeply. When she moved away, I lost that layer of support and have missed it ever since. This experience reminded me what it feels like when your nervous system finally lets go.

I’ve always believed in being open to different ways of supporting the body, especially when they work alongside good medical care.

So with that in mind, I’m curious if any of you have tried acupuncture? And what other ways are you unwinding tension these days?