Honouring 60: Trying 60 New Things This Year (March & April)

If you haven’t already and would like to read about my experiences trying new things in January & February, you can find that post here - https://www.growingheartsandminds.com/post/honouring-60-trying-60-new-things-this-year-the-first-two-months

When I started this challenge to honour turning 60 this, I wasn’t just looking to try 60 new things. I was looking to shake things up, step outside my comfort zone, and see what might happen if I said yes a little more often.

Some of the things I’ve tried have been fun. Some have been uncomfortable. A few I would happily do again. And a few I absolutely would not. But each one has given me something, whether it’s a new experience, a good story, or a deeper understanding of myself.

This is me riding a fat bike in the woods near me.

Here are the new things I tried in March and April:

11. I learned to play bid euchre.

I have played euchre since I was a teenager and am learning to play bridge. I find euchre quite easy and bridge quite challenging so bid euchre feels like a great in-between. I have played several times at a local community centre and also play online quite regularly with my husband. I’ve always loved playing cards but didn’t often have the opportunity or people to play with. Now I’ve found a way to create those opportunities.

12. I attended a sound journey retreat.

This took place at a local community centre. We started the morning with a sound meditation, followed by a lovely lunch and then went forest bathing on snowshoes. It was a beautiful day and I left feeling both relaxed and energized. I would definitely do it again.

13. I rode a fat bike in the snow.

This was my husband’s bike and he had mentioned several times how much fun it was to ride. We have a small forest near us with hiking trails and because of all the snow, the path was quite narrow with soft, deep snow on either side. I found it really difficult to get started, there was barely any room to place my foot to push of, and almost as difficult to stay on the trail. I have no desire to do this again.

14. I attended a women’s weekend wellness retreat.

This is something I had always wanted to do but never invested the time or money into doing - something just for me. I loved everything about it… except the ice. The accommodations were rustic but charming, the food was vegan and delicious, the instructor was calm and inspiring, and the group was small (only five of us plus the instructor). We bonded very quickly. We meditated, journalled, did yoga, made bracelets, talked (so much), were vulnerable, laughed and cried. 

Our area had record snowfall this year and during the retreat the weather began to warm up. The melting and  freezing created very icy conditions. The cabins didn’t have washrooms so we had to walk to the main building a short distance away. On the second night around 1:00 am I slipped and fell on my way back. A light mist was falling and every time I tried to stand my hands and feet slipped out from under me. After several attempts, I could feel myself begin to panic. So I stopped. I sat there on the cold, wet ice and looked around at the beautiful surroundings and the night sky. I felt the first signs of spring in the air and thought about how inspiring the women and the weekend had been. After sitting and breathing for several minutes, I shone my flashlight around and noticed a small patch of grass sticking up through the ice. I shuffled on my butt over to it and used the grass to keep my footing and stand up. 

I have thought about this moment many times since. Whenever I feel myself getting stressed, anxious or overwhelmed, I picture myself sitting there, in my pajamas, soaked through to my underwear and somehow still grateful. It reminds me to just breathe.

15. I went to a spa.

I had no real desire to go to a spa but thought I should at least try it, so I added it to my list. I ended up spending a morning at a local spa and had lunch there, all for free (thanks Mel). I was surprised how much I enjoyed it, and can definitely see myself going back.

16. I drank Gatorwine.

A friend shared an Instagram reel of a women named Nicole trying Gatorwine (Gatorade mixed with wine) for the first time. She was so funny and inspired me to try it for myself. She described it as “a life hack”,  “you’re hydrating and dehydrating at the same time”, “it’s essentially health and wellness”. (You can google instagram reel nicoleleeanne6 trying gatorwine to see the video.) She said it tasted like sangria meets Koolaid, and honestly, that’s pretty accurate. It was better than I expected, but I think I’ll stick to plain wine or sangria.

17. I saw an ABBA cover band at the local college theatre. 

I had been invited to a few different performances at this theatre and had been meaning to see something there. I finally did… along with a group of women. We made a night out of it by going out for dinner first. We had so much fun. The theatre is close to home and a good size, so I’ve been keeping an eye on upcoming events.

18. I interviewed for a podcast.

I shared my previous blog about starting this challenge in a Facebook group for retired teachers and was so surprised when someone reached out asking if I’d be a guest on her podcast, 85 After School. My first reaction was no. Honestly, it probably would have stayed a no if I wasn’t doing this challenge. I love listening to podcasts but being on one? That brought up all kinds of imposter syndrome… I hate the sound of my voice. Who cares what I have to say? What if I say the wrong thing? Before responding, I paused, took a breath and said yes to a discovery call.

Nicole was warm, welcoming and helped ease my fears. So I said yes to an interview. (You can find the episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.)

What struck me afterward was realizing how often fear disguises itself as self-protection. I almost said no simply because being seen and heard felt uncomfortable. Somewhere along the way, I started believing that my stories, experiences, and perspectives aren’t important enough to share. Or maybe I had simply spent so many years protecting myself from judgment, criticism, rejection, or failure that I forgot I don’t always need that protection anymore. This experience reminded me that growth often begins the moment we stop waiting to feel confident and do the thing anyway.

Am I still nervous? Absolutely. But I’m starting to realize that courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s deciding that fear doesn’t get to make every decision for me anymore.

19. I followed a specific food plan.

I recently listened to a Mel Robbins podcast featuring Dr. Amy Shah. Dr. Shah is an MD and nutrition expert, specializing in women’s health, gut health and evidence based research. During the conversation, she shared her 30/30/3 framework for healthy eating:

• 30 grams of protein at each meal (especially breakfast)

• 30 grams of fibre throughout the day

• 3 probiotic foods each day

What caught my attention was the list of benefits she said people could start to notice in as little as one week:

• improved energy and less fatigue

• improved mood and decreased anxiety

• improved sleep

• better digestion

• increased libido

• sharper thinking

• reduced hot flashes and night sweats

• a fitter figure, especially around waist

• feeling fuller with fewer cravings

I decided to give it a try for one week, creating a meal plan that followed the framework as closely as possible. I even experimented with foods I didn’t like, such as cottage cheese (it’s the texture). Turns out, blended into different dishes, I didn’t even notice it was there. I also discovered I enjoyed fermented foods like kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, fermented pickles and kombucha.

I’m not sure I noticed dramatic changes overall, but I did notice significantly fewer nighttime cravings. Moving forward, I won’t follow this plan strictly, but I will include more probiotics and make sure I have protein at breakfast.

Feel free to message me if you would like more information about the meal plan I followed and the recipes in it.

20. I started a 7 day decluttering challenge.

Full honesty, I’ve only completed 4 days of this challenge so far. We committed to spending at least 30 minutes a day for 7 days. We started with a few smaller spaces; a back hallway used for storage, our offices, the front hall closet and the bedroom closets. We also tackled some some outdoor areas. We donated quite a bit and took a couple of loads to the dump. We definitely exceeded our 30 minute goal over those first 4 days. 

While I wanted to move on to the garage next, my husband insisted on relocating a shed first, which turned into it’s own project. He’s almost done and I am determined to get to the garage for our final 3 days, hopefully by Mother’s Day.

21. I attended a reiki healing session.

This is something I’ve been curious about for years. While I’m open to various spiritual and mystical possibilities, believing that there are things beyond our current understanding, I can also be skeptical of individual practices. I decided to make the time to give reiki a try. I won’t go into too much detail, but I will say I felt better when I left. And I’ve continued to feel better, both physically and emotionally, in the weeks since.

22. I joined an online women’s circle.

I came across an open invitation from the wellness retreat instructor and immediately signed up. We meet virtually for six sessions. Each one follows a theme and includes whole group discussions, break out conversations, a few minutes of journaling and a short meditation. So far we’ve explored how we’re feeling, what we need to feel better, the “shoulds” and expectations holding us back and how to use our authentic voice. It’s encouraged me to slow down, reflect and go deeper each week.

23. I got a tattoo.

I’ve often said I would never get a tattoo. Then I was visiting a friend, chatting with her son, and he mentioned that he had done several tattoos on himself and his friends. I jokingly said I would think about it and maybe next time I visited he could do one for me. 

But I couldn’t stop thinking about it. One of the reasons I had never wanted a tattoo is because I didn’t know what I would choose. I wanted something simple, maybe a word or something from nature. I thought back to to that moment I fell on the ice and the idea of breathe. As my friend was getting some things ready for dinner I started scrolling on my phone and came across several different images of a dandelion wish. This felt perfect, a reminder to pause and just breathe. 

So, I asked my friend’s son if he could give me a tattoo right then and there. We agreed on a design, size and placement. Half an hour later, I had a new tattoo, done at my friend’s dining table.  

I love the tattoo. But I think I love my spontaneity even more.

Overall, this challenge has been the push I needed to try some things I‘ve been putting off for a long time and to say yes to some things I otherwise would have avoided. Stepping out of my comfort zone has reminded me that I am stronger and braver than I sometimes think. 

I have some interesting, fun and challenging things planned for the next couple of months and I’m genuinely excited to continue this journey.  

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like some support on your life journey. Or check out my Facebook group, Busy Women Finding Balance, where we talk about boundaries, burnout, asking for help, and everything in between. As a bonus for joining, you’ll get free access to my 18-page goal-setting workbook, Beyond the To-Do List! It’s designed to help you reflect, prioritize, and take action—one step at a time. You can find the workbook in the Files section.