A graveyard of orange Skittles is left behind in every packet I eat. Looking through my closet, you will fail to find a single article of orange clothing. And I can’t stand the fruity, citrus scent of an orange slice.
In my life there is no ROYGBIV, just RYGBIV.
There was once a time when I loved oranges and would eat three a day. I soon was sick of this routine, and I became disgusted by the taste. What started as a small change in my lunchbox became a lifelong, irrational avoidance.
Why would I face the things I hate when I could just avoid them altogether?
This mindset has followed me everywhere in life, shielding me from anything I think would challenge my boundaries. My tendency to stick with the easy, comfortable things in life has only left me far behind, not only in my schoolwork but also with my long-term ambitions.
Not too long ago, when having a serious college talk with my parents, I told them that I wouldn’t even consider
the University of Tennessee because I wouldn’t want to wear orange for four years. That’s ridiculous.
When I live my life with such a tunnel vision view, I rob myself of so many new experiences that I would have never considered.
Every time I drink a glass of orange juice, it’s never quite as bad as I imagined. Every time I accidentally eat an orange-flavored candy, I don’t completely abhor the taste.
On the rare occasion where I’m forced to borrow a friend’s orange hoodie, I find that it compliments my skin tone with radiance.
So I don’t really loathe “orange”– just the idea of it.
Engaging in new experiences has more benefits than many people realize. Trying new things can stimulate the brain to release dopamine, a chemical that can improve mood, motivation, and even self confidence, according to an article published by the Teladoc Health Library. Additionally, being exposed to “novel” places and breaking from routine are more likely to feel happy, positive, and relaxed, an article published by the U.S. National Science Foundation said.
There will always be sanctuary in a familiar routine and in boundaries that we have been accustomed to for our whole lives. Trying new things will always be scary, but the only way to grow past these self-imposed restrictions is to test our own limits.
They were right when they said “Don’t knock it until you try it”, because sometimes when you let you guard down and test the thing you always hated, it might not be so bad.
