EXPERIMENT

Or Stuck Like Gorilla Glue

“He is so set in his ways.”

Have you ever said that? Do you know someone like that? Being set in your ways can mean a lot of things, but I’m talking here about people who refuse to try new things. I don’t include the Amish people in this category. However, can you imagine life without a refrigerator or a car? I would have to take a pass on that.

I’m talking about people who refuse to try new foods or experiences. People who won’t try a new way of doing things.

This shouldn’t be confused with making a choice and sticking to it. Sometimes, you know what you like and what you don’t. You know the right tool to use, and that’s what you use.

There are the times you give something new a try and it works out . . . and then there are the other times when it just doesn’t.

When the kids were little . . . well, even before that . . . while babies are in the womb, we’re told that playing classical music will help their brains develop. Who wouldn’t want to do that? Luckily for me, I like classical music, so it wasn’t much of a sacrifice. Both of our children spoke in full sentences before the age of two. Anecdotally, playing classical music was a success! Although that also meant my two-year-olds talked nonstop. Others may not call that a success.

There are some things in hindsight that you can’t believe you tried. Remember lying out in the sun while intentionally rubbing Baby Oil all over your skin? And then, using a reflector to aim the sun’s rays directly at your face?! What were we thinking? Or how about applying Preparation-H under your puffy eyes? It just sounds gross, and it was. I tried it.

For the past several months, my husband has been saving our used coffee grounds. Each morning, he dries out the day’s grounds and adds them to his bucket. When the bucket is full, he sprinkles the coffee on the lawn. I’m not entirely sure why—I think it’s supposed to reduce the presence of insects. Growing a lawn in Florida can be challenging . . . there are so many types of bugs, and the sun is so hot. The coffee grounds couldn’t hurt. Besides, it smells especially good outside just after he applies it.

At-home cures and all-natural remedies. I love them! Recently, that meant starting my day with a shot glass of Apple Cider Vinegar, ground Turmeric, ground Ginger, Coconut Oil, Lemon juice, Honey, a pinch of Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, and freshly ground Black Pepper. Each ingredient is supposed to work together to do something amazing, but I can’t quite remember what that is. The drink was just as foul as you are imagining. I stuck with it for a couple of weeks, but the bad taste outweighed the possible future benefits, so I quit.

One home remedy I won’t give up is Olive Oil. You can cook with it of course, but you can also soften chapped lips and dry fingernail cuticles, and even cure your cast iron cookware or oil a squeaky door hinge. Kind of a one-stop shop! Once you find something like Olive Oil that has so many uses, the search is on for the next great thing. Do I hear a roll of Duck Tape quacking in the distance?

The search can commence only if you aren’t one of those people who are Gorilla Glued in their ways.

So, go on . . . embrace your inner curiosity . . . seek new adventures . . . and experiment!

Photo by Bee Naturalles on Unsplash

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