New Year New Things 2019 Challenge: An Interview with Dominique

Hi! Meet Dominique!

The first thing I see via video chat is Dominique’s kitchen. And even though we’re oceans apart, our conversation falls into the same rhythm as if we were back in university. She’s mixing up hot chocolate as we chat, enjoying a cozy night in in her Seattle apartment. But things haven’t always been so calm this past year. Like when she was whizzing down a mountain on a snowboard for the first time, or when her heartbeat went into overdrive as she walked across Vancouver’s Capilano suspension bridge.
You see, last January, Dom challenged herself to try one new thing each month of 2018–a challenge that eventually became a lifestyle. The results have been encouraging, occasionally unexpected, and altogether inspiring. Read on to learn Dominique’s motivation, new experiences, and why you might even want to try this challenge for yourself!
*Answers have been edited for length and clarity

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What motivated you to do this?
When a person is low in iron is they start to chew on ice. Their body is trying to tell them they’re lacking something. In the same way, I felt I needed to do something differently or else I was going to lose my mind. I felt depressed, like I was getting stuck in a routine of wake up, coffee, work, gym, eat, sleep. I didn’t hangout too much with anyone and was just alone. And then one day it hit me that I needed to change things up. I decided I’d promise myself to do one new thing a month, and I think in the beginning it kept me going. (Sorry if that was a little dark, hah).

How did people react when they found out what you were doing?
When I would tell people about it they would be really intrigued! It was a conversation starter. I’m actually pretty shy–I’d rather be approached than approach someone, and when I had to interact with others this was a great thing to fall on if I didn’t know what to say. They could get to know me and I could get to know them from their suggestions. I even met a woman who was on the cover of a woodworking magazine who offered to show me how to do her craft for one of my new things!

What advice would you give to someone who wants to try something like this?
I would recommend it to anyone 100% . Through this, you can learn sooo much about yourself. And also doing this doesn’t have to break the bank at all–for example, I went to a $20 hockey game one month. AND (for those that have graduated) it’s a fun way to keep learning new things.  It doesn’t even have to be anything extravagant and you don’t have to feel pressured to commit to one thing. Just commit to doing something once.

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What surprised you about some of your experiences?
February was “a month of yoga”, going 3-4 times a week. And I learned that yoga is actually pretty hard. Also that I need to incorporate it more into my weekly activity because I am not flexible at all, haha. I bought a pass for classes for the month, BUT this could have been completely free through Youtube tutorials. And then in my first month I tried snowboarding. I don’t like snow and thought this would maybe change my mind. It didn’t, but I can now say I snowboarded and gave it a good shot.

You learn sooo much about yourself. You continue to learn and you continue to grow.

What were you the most nervous to try?
My December “new thing” was solo travel to Portland via train for a weekend. I wasn’t scared of the solo travel as much as dealing with people looking at me being alone…But then I met new people who all ended up being really nice! When I told them my reason for being there they said they were going to try to do one new thing a month as well. It’s spreading! 

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“You don’t have to feel pressured to commit to one thing. Just commit to doing something once.”

Unexpected, but welcome all the same, confidence was a common side effect of Dominique’s experiment. “After I finished an experience I felt really good about myself–and about the experience for the most part (not snowboarding, though, haha). Now I can see that I’m a little more friendly toward strangers and confident in myself. I’m more approachable, more open to trying things!

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And Dominique has no plans to stop. “I’m going to keep going til I can’t go anymore,” she laughs. “I want to continue to grow and learn about what’s around me and myself. Hopefully it will bring good vibes into my life.
If anyone has ideas of what to try out in the future let me know!

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Sound exciting? Want to try it for yourself? Download my “New Things 2019 Template” to keep up with your experiences (and tag me on Instagram so we can keep up with the adventures!)
What’s one new thing you want to try? Let me know in the comments below!