The new things continue…

Six weeks into the new year and the 52 New Things project refuses to die. In many ways, it ended on 31 December 2010 with the decision to write a book. However the philosophy behind the project has become unshakeable and I’ve found myself irresistibly drawn towards new experiences, like Justin Beiber to hair straighteners. New things, it seems, are now in my blood.

I spent January not drinking beer. “So what?” you may think. But to a man who subscribes to What’s Brewing? magazine and is a card-carrying member of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), it was like denying tabloid publicity to Jordan. I felt bereft as I sat in the pub, night after night, drinking an increasingly large selection of drinks. In the end I ran out of things to mix with tonic (although I absolutely drew the line at slimline tonic). I didn’t lose any weight, I spent more than I normally would, my hangovers were worse and I looked like a knob. Moral of the story? Beer is good for you.

Other new things on the horizon include a Bikram yoga class (yoga in an incredibly hot room) and the Mini Golf World Championships. Plus I have locked in trips to no less than 4 different countries so far this year on the back of the last trip’s success to visit two countries in 24 hours.

52 New Things as a project may be over, but the urge remains stronger than ever. Saying yes to things has become about a thousand times easier, and ferreting out unusual events or restaurants far more commonplace. I look around at the people in the office and on the tube and I wonder if they lead a varied life, trying new experiences and meeting interesting new people, even perhaps on a monthly basis. Sadly I suspect not. I hope that the book will inspire people to break out from the routine of daily life and explore the wonderful myriad of opportunities, experiences and, let’s face it, pain on offer. It may be a cliche, but life really is too short.

Finally, some of you may remember that my fifth new thing was to call or see my Granddad every couple of weeks. I managed to keep this up for almost the entire year and I am so glad I did as he passed away recently at the ripe old age of 99-years-old. If ever there was a vindication for the project, it was that. RIP Granddad Thorpe.