Hi!
When’s the last time you were new? New at a job or in a new community or took a new class or learned a new skill?
This week, through a strange set of circumstances and my well-connected partner, I had a brand new experience. I was asked to help plan a trip for the First Lady of the United States. For these few days I was the lowest person on the totem pole in a much more experienced and very smart group of people. These folks stepped into an American Legion hall and hosted an event that honored the incredible veterans who’ve dedicated their retirement to supporting current and past military families in their community.
I spent these days doing whatever I was asked, not knowing the answer to anyone’s questions and practicing keeping my mouth shut (with varying success). I met new people (which I love), carried heavy things (notsomuch), ran errands, made signs, rode in a motorcade (!) and learned every day.
It made me realize how infrequently I seek out situations in which I will be the least experienced person in the room. So I dove into the science a bit to see what this uncomfortable, invigorating experience accomplished.
For most adults, being new is something we avoid, or at least grow out of for the most part. Kids are new all the time at just about everything and they learn a ton from it, but as we get older there are less situations in which we’re brand new. For example, the majority of Americans are settled by age 25 in the city they’ll stay in until retirement (or beyond).
However, we don’t have to move to get novelty in our lives. And novelty -experiencing new sensations, learning new skills, thinking new thoughts – improves brain health, decreases dementia risk and releases extra dopamine (picture James Brown singing “It feels good”).
For myself, I do feel good! I served others, heard incredible stories from people I’ll always remember and thought about our democratic experience in ways I never have considered before.
Seek novelty, friends. It’s good for you.
And if you do, let me know. I’d like to hear about your experience
All the best,
Dr. G
