Most of us are not afraid to try new things; we just don’t make it a priority.  Then, when we do try something new and realize how positive the experience was, we often kick ourselves for not having done it sooner.  Trying new things enriches your life in a number of ways:  It allows you to learn and grow while adding a dimension fun and excitement.  It also broadens your perspective and gives you a lot more to talk about in your conversations with others.  So, if you want to avoid the “blahs” and make sure that  you don’t fall into a rut this coming year, make it a belated New Year’s resolution to try something new at least once a month and preferably once a week.  I’m talking about things like trying a new restaurant, brightening the day of a complete stranger, baking something from “scratch,” volunteering at a soup kitchen or taking that class that you’ve always wanted to take.  If you do this, you’ll find life to be a much richer, fuller and happier experience.  Just for the record, I tried Swiss chard this past Sunday evening a friend’s house after actively avoiding it my entire life–it was absolutey delicious.  The same thing happened last year with sweet potatoes–and the list goes on. – Ross Reck, author of Instant Turnaround!

• RossReck.com