Last month I read a book, Girls in White Dresses[1],
in which the characters discussed having a Summer
of Yes. The rules were they had to
say ‘yes’ to everything [within reason] in order to gain some new experiences and
give people they normally would not give a shot.
As I am always up for trying new things, I figured I would adopt this
theory into my own life.
Luckily for me, I haven’t been asked on any horrific dates
like depicted in the book (although that’s my normal life) but I have
participated in some pretty cool new activities. I went to a dueling piano bar[2]
a few weeks ago, soberly, and it was still a lot of fun. I am signed up for the Color Run[3]
coming up on Saturday, I also signed up for a cupcake tour (I am a fat kid at
heart), a graffiti tour, and I have plans to go to an ‘ice bar’ all on the
docket. Last weekend I even took a
spontaneous trip out to Coney Island, which isn’t too crazy of a plan, but it was impulsive. The Summer of Yes actually kicked off with
an NYPD BBQ at the Boat Basin in the city, followed by a bar party in my
neighborhood; and as if that was not an eventful Friday enough, the weekend
continued with another eventful BBQ that
was more like a reunion party. I also
went to a pinot and painting class where I made a pretty interesting painting,
and some impromptu happy hours. So far
this Summer of Yes is going pretty
well for me . . . probably because it just involves me going to new events with
my friends, but I’ll take it! At least
it puts me into new environments where I have the potential to meet more
people. Not every blog/project in
my life has to be about dating . . . although that certainly keeps things
entertaining.
What really prompted me to write this blog, though, is an interesting
email I received yesterday. My cousin
sent me an email linking me to another girl’s blog[4]
who is giving herself a personal challenge, to go on 100 dates by the end of
the summer. Now, my cousin who sent me
the link took the argument that I should try the same thing. However, the thought was that I don’t go on
enough dates and maybe I would be more lighthearted about them and as a side
effect, I would have more material.
My problem with this is that I am pretty lighthearted when it comes to dates. That could be for several different reasons,
but for the most part I don’t get ‘crying in fetal position in the corner’
nervous about them. Yet I think if I
went on more dates, I would be completely turned off by the idea of dating.
I am under the impression that you should be selective with dating
because if you are not, you will get burned out and not want to go on any. Last year I went on a whole bunch of dates,
and in no time at all I was irritated by the whole idea of dating. This year, while I try to be more selective,
I still go on my fair share of ‘why not’ dates, but I cut that number down by a
lot. You shouldn’t have to force these
things. If you’re not feeling the
person, the idea of the date does not excite you, or really, you have no feelings
on the matter whatsoever, then these are all reasons not to go. I don’t force myself to go out because I know
if I’m not going in a positive mindset, that isn’t doing me or the other person
any favors. Furthermore, if I’m not
excited to go out or see the other person, then they probably aren’t right for
me anyway.
So while I wait for someone interesting to come along, I
will keep up with the Summer of Yes
and see what other kind of trouble I can get into. Sure, dueling pianos might seem like your idea
of a placid night, but considering the musicians kept calling us the ‘heavy
metal table,’ interacting with us and rocking our interesting song requests, it
was anything but serene. These are the
best years of my life, where I am completely unattached and can do anything I
want on a whim, I am absolutely going to take full advantage of it. What better way to do that than to spend time
with the amazing people I already have in my life, trying new things, and
meeting some potential new friends along the way? I am always reminding myself
to love where I’m at in life, not just worrying about the future or glamorizing
the past. With all these new and
interesting escapades I am going on, and just where my life has taken me so
far, I am pretty sure no one loves their life as much as I do. Bring it on, Summer of Yes, I am ready and able for all adventures coming my
way.
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