54. Always be willing to try new things.

As I mentioned in the previous page my lifetime of practice has made me proficient in four areas: reading, writing, sleeping and eating. That may be a rather sad commentary on the surface, but I also admit that I have tried to learn and acquire numerous useful skills over the years.  I was never a daredevil nor an adventure seeker nor especially inquisitive, but I was willing to try a lot of different activities. I think it is time to test your perseverance by chronicling my attempts!

I was never an athlete! That did not prevent me from trying my hand (or foot) at just about every sport. As a kid, we all played some form of baseball, touch football, hockey, and marathon preparation. We were forever chasing each other, playing tag or hide and seek, or climbing hills and trees, or running to the store. In later years, I tried my hand at badminton, squash, handball, and bowling. I golfed and curled for about ten years and after not getting invited to participate in the Masters or the Briar, I switched gears for other pursuits.

At different times, I tried to learn tai chi and oil painting. I found the former a kind of exercise in sleep-walking and the other only resulted in paintings suitable for basement storerooms or to decorate outhouses. I took dance lessons and was encouraged to try big game hunting instead. Instructors in all courses that I registered in were delighted when I left the room.

I have always enjoyed learning new card and board games. My Dad taught me to play cribbage and I still enjoy a friendly game. I did not have fun with "thinking" games like bridge, mahjong, or chess. I play games not to develop stress, but to relax, such as backgammon.

If I were to have my portrait painted like the Royal Family does, I would be seated in my recliner chair, with a book in one hand and a snack in the other. Despite the fact that I have tried to learn and love new activities, you would not ever see a painting of me holding a flag at the summit of Everest or outfitted in a Nascar driver's suit. If you desire your portrait painting to be more interesting than mine, consider an African safari setting or maybe give steer wrestling a try!