I have to admit that as I get older, I sometimes get skittish about trying new adventures. When some friends from Columbus suggested we “meet in the middle” to go snow tubing in Mansfield, OH, I was not so sure about it. My wife, on the other hand, was totally into it…and I did not want to be a party pooper. The weather forecast for the day was very cold (low- to mid-20s) and I was secretly hoping we might cancel and go for something a little more tame. Nobody backed out, so we met for lunch before heading to the tubing site. We laughed at the table as we all admitted that we were a little scared about this new experience; I was sure we would need an EMS to carry us out of the place!

As we approached our first run (pictured here-that’s me in the orange hat), I was more than a bit concerned. The moment we started going, though, it all turned in to laughing and whooping. The snow on the chutes was well-packed and icy, and we flew! We could not wait to do it again and again. We even forgot about the cold. What a great day with good friends.

I bring this up because I think many older adults are afraid to try new experiences. There is fear of the unknown, fear of injury, and fear of not enjoying it. These are all legitimate, but there is a price to be paid for not attempting new things: it can be harmful to our emotional health. Research shows, as well, that novel experiences are good for our brain health.

I am not suggesting that everyone has to go snow tubing on a cold winter day, but rather that even with our decades of experience, there is a lot out there that can be new and exciting to us. There are adventures that are more tame like going to a new museum, a state or national park, or volunteering for a cause you care about. More challenging might be going camping, taking a canoe trip, or traveling overseas. Then there are more serious adventures like snorkeling/scuba diving, going on an ATV ride, jumping out of a plane (with a parachute!), or even running for office. Each one of them has the potential to stimulate our senses, our minds, our imagination, and our sense of self-confidence. Doing them with friends or family members can create special memories and opportunities for social interaction and growth.

I don’t know if I’ll ever go sky-diving, but this year does hold plans for some domestic and overseas travel. I will be going to a conference to pick up continuing education credits to keep my Personal Trainer credentials current, and look forward to learning a lot. I may also consider taking on a new language!

Keep your life exciting–and remember your limitations so that you can keep yourself healthy and safe. Remember, it is not the years in your life that matter, but the life in your years!