Date Connection:
I knew who he was many years before I saw him in person for the first time. When I was engaged over ten years ago, I used to love to listen to him sing, "When You Say You Love Me."
Date Location:
Vivint Smart Home Arena
What I Learned:
I don't care what you say. This WAS our first date. He even dedicated a song to me (well...to all the arts teachers in the audience...which includes me...so to me).
My twenty-eighth chance taught me that music is its own love language.
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Twenty-Seventh Chance
Date Connection:
He and I met a couple years ago online and have kept in touch over the years. We've been out a few times before, but it had been awhile since I'd seen him in person. I asked if he'd want to be one of my dates. I knew it would be fun and I looked forward to spending time with someone who knows me a little better than just a first impression can provide.
Date Location:
Salt Lake Archery
What I Learned:
If I didn't already have a trillion things going right now, archery could easily become my new passion. It reminds me of the tongue in cheek quote from Pride and Prejudice that says, "If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient.” I don't think that's actually true in this case with me and archery, but that quote makes me laugh. And I really did have a BLAST shooting arrows!
It was so fun to try a new sport that my date understood inside and out. He was able to explain everything about it to me in detail and give me great tips on how to shoot. I got a bullseye that I'm shamelessly proud of and it's hanging in my room. I also shot my arrows into many other places that were not the bullseye...or even the target...but that does not negate the success of that one shot! My date is super strong- like champion-dead-weight-lifting strong- and it was rad to see him whip back 75 pounds of tension on his bow (while I was happily rocking 22 pounds). He was shredding his paper, consistently landing shot after shot right next to each another. I loved that it was through my date that I saw the world for an hour through different lenses.
My twenty-seventh chance at this experiment taught me that there are things out there that I could really love if I only gave them a "shot" (ha ha). Maybe that applies to dating- sometimes we think we have a type that is unchangeable; however, maybe we aren't broadening our perspective enough. It's kind of sobering to think of all the things we miss out on because we don't go outside our comfort zone enough.
He and I met a couple years ago online and have kept in touch over the years. We've been out a few times before, but it had been awhile since I'd seen him in person. I asked if he'd want to be one of my dates. I knew it would be fun and I looked forward to spending time with someone who knows me a little better than just a first impression can provide.
Date Location:
Salt Lake Archery
What I Learned:
If I didn't already have a trillion things going right now, archery could easily become my new passion. It reminds me of the tongue in cheek quote from Pride and Prejudice that says, "If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient.” I don't think that's actually true in this case with me and archery, but that quote makes me laugh. And I really did have a BLAST shooting arrows!
It was so fun to try a new sport that my date understood inside and out. He was able to explain everything about it to me in detail and give me great tips on how to shoot. I got a bullseye that I'm shamelessly proud of and it's hanging in my room. I also shot my arrows into many other places that were not the bullseye...or even the target...but that does not negate the success of that one shot! My date is super strong- like champion-dead-weight-lifting strong- and it was rad to see him whip back 75 pounds of tension on his bow (while I was happily rocking 22 pounds). He was shredding his paper, consistently landing shot after shot right next to each another. I loved that it was through my date that I saw the world for an hour through different lenses.
My twenty-seventh chance at this experiment taught me that there are things out there that I could really love if I only gave them a "shot" (ha ha). Maybe that applies to dating- sometimes we think we have a type that is unchangeable; however, maybe we aren't broadening our perspective enough. It's kind of sobering to think of all the things we miss out on because we don't go outside our comfort zone enough.
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Twenty-Sixth Chance
Date Connection:
This was a second date with date #8!
Date Location:
Performance by Draper Philharmonic Orchestra and Symphony Chorus
What I Learned:
I was SO excited to discover the concert was all songs from musicals! They had featured soloists performing songs from some of my favorite shows. It was such a nice surprise when I arrived and saw the program.
Again, just as I observed the first time we went out, I learned that this guy doesn't let anything stop him from achieving his goals and exploring his passions. He has a quiet determination and is driven; yet he is also very kind. He is humble and friendly. I admire him to no end. I look at him and wonder if my attitude would be a fraction of what his is if I was faced with the same challenges he faced from infancy. He has endured countless surgeries and faced many obstacles, but he has a spirit of adventure that keeps him pushing far beyond limitations that the world might place on him without knowing who he really is. I think his character is truly remarkable.
My twenty-sixth chance taught me that we are as strong as we believe we can be. We should test the boundaries of our strength more often than we do!
This was a second date with date #8!
Date Location:
Performance by Draper Philharmonic Orchestra and Symphony Chorus
What I Learned:
I was SO excited to discover the concert was all songs from musicals! They had featured soloists performing songs from some of my favorite shows. It was such a nice surprise when I arrived and saw the program.
Again, just as I observed the first time we went out, I learned that this guy doesn't let anything stop him from achieving his goals and exploring his passions. He has a quiet determination and is driven; yet he is also very kind. He is humble and friendly. I admire him to no end. I look at him and wonder if my attitude would be a fraction of what his is if I was faced with the same challenges he faced from infancy. He has endured countless surgeries and faced many obstacles, but he has a spirit of adventure that keeps him pushing far beyond limitations that the world might place on him without knowing who he really is. I think his character is truly remarkable.
My twenty-sixth chance taught me that we are as strong as we believe we can be. We should test the boundaries of our strength more often than we do!
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Twenty-Fifth Chance
Date Connection:
We met at a birthday party about a month after I began my challenge. I told him about it during our conversation and later asked if he wanted to be one of my dates.
Date Location:
Rubios
What I Learned:
Besides looking like Josh Groban, this man had many amazing and highly unique qualities. He is passionate about people from every walk of life and seeks to understand and learn from them. He devotes much of his life to non-profit work and spends lots of time with people who have very different lifestyles from his own. He is friendly and non-confrontational, but very open about his ideas and willing to listen. I felt like I didn't have to walk on egg shells around him and could ask any question without risking offense. Perhaps that mentality is problematic, but it's the one I adopted regardless, and he seemed at ease answering any question I presented. He does his homework- he believes in things he has taken the time to learn about and he doesn't seem worried about what others think about his views. He enjoys living in contradiction, maintaining strong religious and moral convictions while exploring many different views and perspectives. It was no surprise to learn he majored in Philosophy in college!
Chance #25 taught me that being "traditional" and following established patterns of living and working does not have to be the only way to live. Thinking outside the box a little just might lead us to a better version of ourselves and one that better understands the mission of the Savior.
We met at a birthday party about a month after I began my challenge. I told him about it during our conversation and later asked if he wanted to be one of my dates.
Date Location:
Rubios
What I Learned:
Besides looking like Josh Groban, this man had many amazing and highly unique qualities. He is passionate about people from every walk of life and seeks to understand and learn from them. He devotes much of his life to non-profit work and spends lots of time with people who have very different lifestyles from his own. He is friendly and non-confrontational, but very open about his ideas and willing to listen. I felt like I didn't have to walk on egg shells around him and could ask any question without risking offense. Perhaps that mentality is problematic, but it's the one I adopted regardless, and he seemed at ease answering any question I presented. He does his homework- he believes in things he has taken the time to learn about and he doesn't seem worried about what others think about his views. He enjoys living in contradiction, maintaining strong religious and moral convictions while exploring many different views and perspectives. It was no surprise to learn he majored in Philosophy in college!
Chance #25 taught me that being "traditional" and following established patterns of living and working does not have to be the only way to live. Thinking outside the box a little just might lead us to a better version of ourselves and one that better understands the mission of the Savior.
Twenty-Fourth Chance
Bet you thought I gave up...
...I didn't. Yet. Ha ha ;-). I have exactly a month from tomorrow to complete my challenge and I think it just might happen.
Date Connection:
This was actually a SECOND date after twenty-three FIRST dates. Chance 18 has made a reappearance on my blog as chance 24.
Date Location:
My house. We watched "Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration," keeping in line with our new tradition of watching all the church movies that played in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building theater.
What I Learned:
We had fun eating snacks and chatting while watching our movie. When the movie was done, I told him he should read what I wrote about him from our first date. He got up from where he was sitting and sat close beside me so I could read along with him. It felt nice sitting side by side. Truth: when you're single a long time, you miss physical contact. Even something as simple as a pat on the back, a hug, or sitting close enough that you are touching another human being is a really good feeling. I was grateful that he was brave enough to break down a barrier by sitting next to me.
Throughout this dating process, I have learned that somewhere along the way, I constructed a cage around my heart. I learned that simple things like showing someone you value their nearness or paying them a sincere compliment can start the process of untangling the wire.
...I didn't. Yet. Ha ha ;-). I have exactly a month from tomorrow to complete my challenge and I think it just might happen.
Date Connection:
This was actually a SECOND date after twenty-three FIRST dates. Chance 18 has made a reappearance on my blog as chance 24.
Date Location:
My house. We watched "Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration," keeping in line with our new tradition of watching all the church movies that played in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building theater.
What I Learned:
We had fun eating snacks and chatting while watching our movie. When the movie was done, I told him he should read what I wrote about him from our first date. He got up from where he was sitting and sat close beside me so I could read along with him. It felt nice sitting side by side. Truth: when you're single a long time, you miss physical contact. Even something as simple as a pat on the back, a hug, or sitting close enough that you are touching another human being is a really good feeling. I was grateful that he was brave enough to break down a barrier by sitting next to me.
Throughout this dating process, I have learned that somewhere along the way, I constructed a cage around my heart. I learned that simple things like showing someone you value their nearness or paying them a sincere compliment can start the process of untangling the wire.
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