Ahoy there, it's my life!

I took a three hour sailing class today and it was both exhilirating as well as nerve racking. I didn't know a thing about boating, but just felt a pull to learn to sail. After a mini lesson in rigs and sails we were out on the water tacking, tumbling and cutting through the water in the quiet silence of the open lake. I am a novice to the bone and didn't grow up with boats of any kind. But it's the season of my life when my children are grown, my education is complete, my job is secure, but I am still longing to learn something new. I biffed more than once making my way back and forth across the boat; trying to get my hands and feet to learn to do something completely new. Every sense was awakened and alert as I tried to process WAY more information that I can possibly remember in one day. When we came ashore the instructor was very kind and asked if I would like to come back and do it again another day. His patience and clear directions were appreciated more than he knows. I'm a slow learner. I fall a lot. I ask a lot of questions, more than once. I need things repeated. I require a patient teacher. I don't know if I can master this sailing thing, but I was able to overcome my fear today and try something new. It's the trying that counts in my book, the risk taking. As I grow older I want to look for new adventures, not wait for them to come to me. It's a challenge because more and more it feels comfortable just staying in my comfort zone, curled up on the couch with a good book. I want to continue to ask more of myself, to challenge myself to learn new things, even if I tip it all over in the process.