Last night, I went on a date. And it turned out to be really fun. It was totally spontaneous and so unlike what I was used to from my previous marriage. The guy was 15 minutes late and nothing seemed to go right. We ended up watching a movie at a drive-in theater and getting cheap tacos at a taco truck.
I wasn’t bothered by it at all. In fact, the spontaneity was exactly what I’ve been craving in my marriage. In some ways, it made me a bit sad, actually. It reminded me of something I would have loved for my ex to do, but at the same time, it reminded me of the times that I pushed back on his plans because I didn’t think they sounded interesting. I almost did that with this guy. I thought going to a drive-in movie sounded lame. Plus, how are we supposed to get to know each other if we’re watching a movie?
I ended up trying something new and really enjoying it. That was something my ex always pushed on me - new experiences. And I always pushed back because they were out of my comfort zone. This whole experience of dating and being on my own really forced me into putting myself out there, becoming okay with discomfort, and trying new things.
I have been living a fuller life since the breakup, and I can’t completely give credit to the fact that I feel a sense of freedom and that I can do more for myself. Some of that credit goes to the new experiences that I’m forced into taking on, despite how much I’d rather stay in my comfort zone.
I’m really glad I had that date. It was a really good reminder to stay open. Things can be different. And different isn’t bad. Sometimes, I may like different more. But I’ll never know until I try it.
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