The Euphoria of New Things

cutting a pineapple and a food bank workout

Photo by Vino Li on Unsplash

simple things

It’s Christmas dinner and I’ve invited my friend Jack to join us. He lives alone and has no family in town. When he shows up he asks if he can help so I ask him to cut the pineapple.

“I’ve never cut a pineapple before.”

What?! I never imagined that someone could get to his late 20’s and not ever have cut a pineapple. But then, my dad didn’t eat a bagel until he was in his mid-50’s.

It’s no big deal. He cuts it fine. Yeah, he leaves the stringy core, but I was the one who forgot to tell him to take it out. I am a bad pineapple cutting mentor.

Was cutting a pineapple life-changing for Jack? Probably not. Did bagels become my dad’s new favorite food? No. In fact I can’t recall ever seeing him eat a bagel again. But, I could see Jack’s smile when we sat down to dinner, that rad sense of accomplishment.

So here’s a novel idea…

Let's Try New Things

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Renowned researcher Brene Brown calls them FFT’s (effing first times).

”On Friday, we launched the first episode of our podcast, Unlocking Us. It’s all about FFTs (effing first times) and how hard it is to be new at things – from small things to global pandemics. When we have no relevant experience or expertise, the vulnerability, uncertainty, and fear of these firsts can be overwhelming. Yet, showing up and pushing ourselves past the awkward, learner stage is how we get braver.”¹

Jack’s FFT was cutting a pineapple. Lu Ann Cahn says it can be just about anything.

It doesn’t have to be a big challenge, like Cahn’s experience of trying something new every day. “Why We Must Do New Things To Live a Happier Life.”

Her self-challenge included simple things that only took a couple minutes. In fact, she started what became a life-changing journey by making a list and encourages us to do the same.

“Just make a simple list.

A simple list of things you’ve never done.”

so i made a list…

The things on my list aren’t all that simple. But I’ll see what I can do about it because Cahn also explains the why. Doing new things can help us

“experience the euphoria of new things.”

I love how that sounds, how it feels on the tongue. Try it. Whisper that phrase to yourself.

The day after the pineapple dinner I get a text from Jack asking if I want to volunteer with him at the food bank. Another new thing (for both of us). A chance to experience FFT euphoria. Hell yeah!

wait- is this an exercise class?

I didn’t expect to get so sweaty at the local food bank. I expected the pace to be more retired people carefully (and slowly) placing cans in boxes while chatting about their grandkids.

What happens is the pace sends me into a state of panic. The volunteer on my left has her two cans of fruit cocktail in and pushes the box to me faster than I can turn. 

I thought I’d picked a simple job. But it turns out loading three jars of peanut butter per box slows me down. I have a line of boxes waiting for me.

On my right Jack is faring no better. And he only has to put in two cans of applesauce.

On his right is the other pro. She volunteers so much that the lady giving instructions to us newbies introduces her as “practically staff.” Practically Staff likes giving helpful tips, especially when we put the cans in the wrong spot (which apparently is a thing).

I shouldn’t feel intimidated loading cans into boxes… right? 

Eventually I get so dizzy from all the turning back and forth to grab peanut butter, that I’m relegated to the center of the room, where all the empty boxes and plastic get tossed. Now my job is to cut down boxes so they’re flat and recyclable which includes a lot of bending over to pick up, smash, and stack.

I have stripped down to my tank top. Jack’s glasses are fogged, his face streaming sweat. 

Oh my god. I don’t think I can keep this up for another hour.

And I’m in shape! The senior citizens at the end of the conveyer belt— no sweat. They’re as cool in their jogging suits and floral cardigans as if they’re having tea. Practically Staff keeps up a steady stream of chatter, but Jack doesn’t speak. Like me, he’s frantically trying to keep up the pace.

At the end of our shift, we peel off plastic gloves. My hands are wet with sweat. Jack’s hands are pruny like he’s been soaking in the bath.

How you can expect your hands to look after a shift at the foodbank in latex gloves.²

But we feel awesome, sweaty asses and all. Jack confesses that he never thought he’d get out in the community and do something like this. When I ask why he tells me how a few years before he’d cut himself off from a bad group of friends. He’d lived in dread of meeting them somewhere in town, and rarely went out.

“I don’t know what I was afraid of,” he says, “none of them would ever do something like this.”

Instead, what happened was Jack felt part of a community that he’d shut himself off from.We put together food boxes for our needy neigbors. We felt like rockstars.

So we agree to do this regularly because it is euphoric. Next time though, we’re wearing workout clothes, and putting ice packs in our pants. 

back to the list…

So, what’s on your list of EFF euphoria-inducing possibilities?

If you want to volunteer at your local food bank, I found the process quite simple, and very rewarding! Also it’s a good workout. Get some info here: Feed America.

I’m going to go warm up some wax and see if I can get my euphoria on.

1. https://brenebrown.com/blog/2020/03/21/collective-vulnerability/

2. Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash