For a while now, I’ve been catching myself avoiding things because of the thought that I wouldn’t like them, even when I’ve actually never tried them. It was easier for me to create the idea that, since I thought I would never want it, I could have an actual reason not to try it. But recently, I realised how many good moments I was letting go because I let myself feel comfortable in my assumptions about the unknown.
For years, I convinced myself that the Harry Potter series wasn’t for me. I have never gotten deep into the books or even taken the shortcut of watching the movies. I had made up my mind that I would probably go through my entire life without sitting down and watching a full Harry Potter film. But when I first got together with my boyfriend, he made a condition that I had to watch all eight movies with him. I said yes, mostly because it mattered to him a lot, apparently, but also because I knew that it would be a very low-cost date for us as college students. I wasn’t expecting much, but the more movies we finished, the more I found myself enjoying them – way more than I thought I would.
I’ll be honest, the movies weren’t bad at all, but the moments it created between us were what surprised me the most. Sitting and lying together, laughing at scenes, and him watching me react to scenes he’s seen hundreds of times made me realise I would’ve never had these memories to rewatch in my head if I had stood firm on the movie series not being for me. He made me realise that trying new things isn’t just about discovering what I like or a new favourite; it’s about the experiences and memories I get to build with people around me. When I shut things down too quickly, without a second glance, I was closing the door on moments I didn’t even know I could have.
I think I’m learning that being open means giving things a real chance, even when I’m unsure or hesitant, to give room for potential moments to happen. Sometimes my first thought isn’t always the right perception of something. If a simple nod and smile can create memories I’d look back on for years, maybe I can start doing it more often.