Something New

/ Ann Coleman

When some friends invited my husband and I to join them on their trip to Las Vegas, we happily accepted.  My husband had only been there on business trips, spending his time in meetings on the outskirts of the city, and I hadn’t been there at all.  Las Vegas wasn’t a place we had a special interest in visiting, but getting out of town with friends seemed like a great idea, so we decided to give it a try.  And we ended up having a wonderful time.

One advantage of traveling with friends is that they encourage us to try new things.  Not only did we spend a few days in Vegas, but my husband (who is very uncomfortable with heights) actually joined us on the giant, 550-foot tall, ferris wheel on the strip.  The first time we saw it, my husband said there was no way he was getting on that thing.  But our friends assured us that each “pod” is huge and completely enclosed, and said the wheel moved so slowly that you don’t even feel it or realize how high up you are.  To my surprise, my husband agreed to try it.  It could have been peer pressure…even at our age, that’s a thing…or it could have been the glass of wine he drank at dinner.  But for whatever reason, we all boarded the “High Roller,”  and it turned out that they were right.  It wasn’t scary at all, and offered a fabulous view of the city.

Talking about it later, my husband and I agreed we probably wouldn’t have visited Las Vegas at all if our friends hadn’t invited us.  And I know for a fact that if the two of us had made that trip alone, there is no way we would have ridden that ferris wheel.  I’m not as uncomfortable with heights as my husband is, but I tend to avoid them just the same.  At age 64, I’ve reached a point in my life where I believe I already know what I like and what I don’t like, which is okay.  But what is not okay is that sometimes I allow that knowledge to stop me from trying something new.

And that’s where friends and family come in.  They can invite us to try something for the first time, or to venture somewhere we’ve never even considered going.  I like to think of myself as a creature of habit, because that sounds so much nicer than “stuck in a rut.”  Left to my own devices, I rarely wander out of my comfort zone.  But when someone I know and trust suggests something brand new, that opens a door for me to expand my horizons, to experience somewhere brand new, and to realize that I can do more than I ever thought possible.

I guess sometimes peer pressure, from the right people and for the right reasons, can be a very good thing indeed….

86 thoughts on “Something New”

  1. We all need to try new things from time to time, just not terribly dangerous ones. The Ferris wheel must have been amazing with all Vegas on display. Glad you took the trip and made the rounds Ann. Happy Monday. Allan

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    • You have a terrific attitude! I admit we hesitated at first, but we learned to say “Yes, let’s do it!” And I’m so glad we did…so much of life passes us by if we’re afraid to try something new, I believe.

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  3. I’m glad you went, and I’m glad your friends enticed you into some new experiences. I will say, however, that no matter how good the friend, no one is enticing me to Las Vegas — or onto a cruise ship. One of the great things about getting old and experienced is that it finally becomes easy to say, “Nope. Not gonna do that.” Remember President Bush and his broccoli?

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    • Yeah, I understand. There were SO MANY people, which is the same as the cruise ship. And it’s okay to know your boundaries and stick to them. (There are still places I’m not going….) But for us, trying it was the right thing to do, and I’m glad we did. I saw things I had only heard about, and I enjoyed that, plus the people we were with were really nice about showing us around. Las Vegas is still not one of my favorite places, but I’m glad I saw it. But I’m with you on the large cruise ships. I’ve done it, but it’s just too many people for me!

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  4. Las Vegas is a place that I could visit but I wouldn’t want to live there! On our visit, we experienced some definite culture shock… They were doing construction on the strip and so the Ferris wheel was not running. Now I kind of wish it had been.

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    • I couldn’t live there either. The city was too congested for me, and I’m also not a fan of desert living. But it was fun to visit! And yeah, the ferris wheel was great, who knew? We never would have had the nerve to try it if our friends hadn’t assured us it was fine!

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  5. Wow I bet that was a great experience, Ann! We’re headed through Las Vegas in the spring, and may spend a few days there. Alhough I’m not sure about how we would be about the heights (also out of my comfort zone), it’s something to consider!

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    • The odd thing was that you really didn’t feel as if you were that high in the air. It felt like being in a high rise building, so if you can tolerate that, you’d be fine on the ferris wheel. We also enjoyed the fountain show in front on the strip, which is worth seeing. And if you have time for a side trip, either the Grand Canyon or the Hoover Dam/Lake Mead area are worth checking out!

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    • Thanks, Donna! I’ve always found that if I want to grow, I need to step out of my comfort zone. But the sad thing is, I often need a nudge in order to do that. I guess I should just be grateful that some people are willing to provide that nudge!

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  7. I haven’t been to Vegas in years- it was always work related when I went. Where is the wheel Ann? I’m wondering if it’s newer as I don’t remember seeing one anywhere. I did attend a night time event that was held on a rooftop with a great view of the strip, although I stayed away from the edge! Congrats to your husband. I admire his bravery.

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    • Yes we went to a bar that was on the top of one of the buildings, but I don’t remember which one. I do remember the view was great, although I saw it only through the windows. The ferris wheel, called the “High Roller” was a couple of blocks off the strip. I don’t remember exactly how we got there, though, we were just following our friends. I do have a picture of it that include a pic of the copy of the Eiffel Tower, if that helps!

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      • I know the Paris where the Eiffel Tower is, but I also Googled the High Roller after I commented. It opened in 2014, long after my last visit there so that explains why I had no clue!

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  9. That’s truly a major part of what friends are for, I think. And even better if we can give that to someone else, as well.
    Our little Dare can turn out to be someone’s mind-opening scare. Wheeeee!

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  13. So very true Ann. We often need a bit of coaxing to try new things and that’s where having open minded friends is great. So glad you ventured out of your comfort zone. At any age it’s a wonderful thing and opens up new horizons, in your case quite literally. Have a great week.

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    • Thanks, Miriam! I love having friends who are open minded, and also friends who have different tastes and backgrounds, because then they can introduce me to places and things that are familiar to them. It’s really a blessing.

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  16. I am a firm believer that it is important to continue to grow & learn & even step outside our comfort zones every once and a while. Falling into a rut, particularly as we age, is very easy to do. Good on you for accepting the offer of good friends to travel & experience something you would have otherwise never had the opportunity or want to try. 💕

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  19. I’m so happy for your new experiences, Ann! It’s very inspiring and I agree that friends can make everything better.
    My son lives in Vegas and I visit him fairly often. We seldom, if ever, go to the strip. One thing for sure, I don’t visit him when it’s sweltering. I don’t know how anyone does that!

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    • We stayed near the strip, which was interesting, but it wasn’t the sort of place I’d want to live near. But I know Vegas has lots of other things to offer, and the views of the nearby mountains were gorgeous. We visited Hoover Dam and Lake Mead while we were there. If we’d had more time, we’d have worked the Grand Canyon in too! (But I’m with you on the heat…if I lived there, I’d vacations somewhere cool in the Summer months.)

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  20. Ann, how wonderful that you took your friend up on her offer – instead of falling prey to misplaced misgivings and doubts and fears. It’s a truly lovely thing to be able to let go from time to time. While I have come to learn the importance of routines, I also think that life dulls and darkens when we become enslaved to routines (and to ourselves), when we forsake exploring, wondering, trying and learning new things just so we can stick real tight to the tried and beaten path.

    There’s a time to stay home and there’s a time to go out and see some new part of the world, be it on another continent or even 10 miles away – and we must do as the time bids us.

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    • I love that last paragraph! Because I also believe there is a time to stay home and a time for routines (they do make life easier), but there is also a time to, as you say, “let go” and try something new. Friends and family can really help with that. My brother-in-law and his family travel a lot, and hearing about their adventures makes us want to try places we’ve never thought of either!

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  21. Good for you Ann! Yes, friends can make us do some things we wouldn’t normally do, but hey as long as we’re not breaking any laws and putting ourselves in great danger, it’s all good right 😊? Who would’ve guessed, the positive sides of peer pressure 🤣🤣.

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    • I know! I have always thought of peer pressure as a negative thing, but in the right circumstances, it can be good. As long as we’re not doing anything dangerous or illegal, as you pointed out, it can be good to be talked into trying something new and even something we’re not so sure about. I guess that’s how we grow!

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    • Yes, sometimes you just get to the point where it’s “been there, done that” and you really don’t feel the need to return. Since we were there for just three days, I’m sure we barely scratched the surface of all there is to do, but I still feel as if we got a good sense of the area. I’m not in a hurry to return, but I’m not ruling it out, either!

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    • I saw that roller coaster, and I wouldn’t have gotten on that either! What made the ferris wheel nice was that the “pod” really felt like a small room, and so it felt completely safe and secure. It was a way to see the views without panicking!

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    • We would have avoided it for sure if there were just the two of us. But we knew these friends wouldn’t have wanted us to do something we wouldn’t enjoy, and they assured us that you didn’t notice the height at all…and they were right!

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  26. You had the right sort of peer pressure…from people you knew and trusted…..and you had a great time.
    We all need friends to jolt us out of our rut and we are lucky enough to have a couple of young friends who take us to places we would not think of visiting – or did not know existed – with their cries of ‘What’s up with you two? Think you’re old and handicapped or something?’ and then making sure that neither factor spoils the visit.

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    • You’re right, there’s good peer pressure and there’s bad peer pressure. And the kind that comes from friends who we know and trust is the good kind. I’m glad you have those kinds of friends too…making sure you try new things, but also making sure they’re not pushing you into something that really is too much. Those are the friends who are worth their weight in gold!

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  27. I’ve never been to Vegas — never really had any desire to go there — but I’m glad you jumped at the chance to do something different and found it enjoyable. We all really should “step outside our comfort zone” every now and then to stay on our toes!

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    • I was curious to go, but had never been curious enough before to actually plan a vacation there myself. So I’m really glad we were invited to share our friends’ vacation there. It turned out to be fun! It still isn’t on my list of “top ten vacation destinations” but I really am glad I went.

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  28. Vegas is an experience to be shared with friends, more than co-workers. We’ve been there alone, just the two of us– and it wasn’t as much fun as goofing off with other people who you like. Glad you went, glad you realized it was fun. Now you can say you did it and be done with it.

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  29. Your trip with your friends sounds great fun. Well done to your husband (and you) for plucking up the courage to go on the huge Ferris wheel. I’d love to have seen the view from the top, but whether I’d have had the confidence to get on it is another matter. I agree, however, that when you’re with friends, it’s easier to be persuaded to try something new. I’m so glad you both enjoyed the experience. That Ferris wheel sounds a bit like our London Eye with large pods which move very slowly. I’ve never been on it, but apparently, the view from the top is equally as spectacular as I imagine it was in Vegas. I’ve never been to the U.S. and am never likely to have the opportunity, but as a bit of a homebody, I’m not too bothered. There are places I’d like to see more, such as Australia (to visit my sister) and New Zealand as I’ve heard the scenery is so beautiful. It’s too much like hard work, even beginning to think about travelling on my own with a wheelchair; however, would I be tempted if friends offered a trip? I don’t know. I’m glad you had a wonderful and memorable trip, Ann. X

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    • Thanks, Ellie! I’ve never been to London (other than Heathrow airport), but the Eye does sound like the ferris wheel in Vegas. Because the pods are enclosed and it moves so slowly, it doesn’t feel like a ferris wheel at all, and the views are spectacular. I don’t blame you for hesitation to travel in a wheel chair, that would make it hard. But maybe you will get the chance to go to Australia and New Zealand to see family some day! I hope so….. Take care!!

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  30. It sounds like a wonderful trip!!! It is good to try something new. I am proud of your husband for taking a ride on that Ferris wheel. Fear can hold us back from so many things. By letting go of those fears, we can do things we never thought possible.

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  31. That sounds like a wonderful trip; something new and exciting with good friends. I think the same at times. I’m in my sixties, know what I like, and feel comfortable with that. But, life’s still more interesting trying a few new things every now and then. 🙂 Thanks for your motivating post, Ann!

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    • Yes, I think there’s a fine balance between knowing what we like, and yet still staying open to trying something new. (Because if we don’t try it, how will we ever know?) Personally, I was sticking with the “tried and true” a little bit too much, especially when it came to travel. So I guess I’m still trying to find my balance!

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  32. I think everyone should go everywhere, including Las Vegas, once. It’s definitely its own unique thing. My husband and I have been twice. Never liked it, but it’s just too loud, too many people, too many neon lights, etc… Great restaurants, though!

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    • Yes, it was crowded. The good thing was our friends rented a lovely condo where we could hang out and refresh when we wanted somewhere more quiet. And I agree that it’s good to go anywhere we get the chance, as long as it’s reasonably safe and not too expensive. But the more of the world we see, the better!!

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  35. I find Vegas fascinating as it seems to be one of those places that either you love it or hate it. There are people that go there all the time (like Disneyland) and some that have “been there, done that.”

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