Ever since childhood, I’ve disliked change. Probably because I fear it. So I cling to routines. I’m slow to win over and I’m reluctant to try new things, until I either first research a topic to death or circumstances force the issue. Then I’m at peace with it. This is most likely why I’m child-free and why only a job loss could prompt me to leave my beloved home state two years ago. But these life-changing decisions have turned out to be good for me in many ways.
But on a lighter note, I’ve also changed my mind about the following:
1. Vegetables. As a child and teenager, I hated, absolutely hated vegetables. Not even simply lettuce and tomato could tempt me to try them and my mother never forced the issue–it’s a wonder I didn’t get really sick! But upon approaching forty, disliking meat to the point of being repulsed by it, and concern about my poor family health history, I became a vegan. It has been five years and I’ve never looked back. And now I love, love, love vegetables–my mother still can’t believe it.
Home-grown mizuna greens! Author’s photo
2. Historical romance novels. I used to superiorly smirk and inwardly sigh in disbelief–shame on me!–when asked for those books with the sexy covers. What could be worse for your brain than those books? Or so I thought. Then I started reading my fellow Eleventh Stack bloggers’ posts highlighting some romance novels they enjoyed and decided to just try it. Bite my tongue; I’m now hooked. At their very heart are some wonderfully well-written stories but there’s also a surprising amount of history–eighteenth and nineteenth century England which, as a Jane Austen student, I love. Plus it’s all happy endings and I’ve had enough angst-ridden books in my life and women’s book clubs for a lifetime.
Sherry Thomas is one of several excellent romance writers I’ve discovered.
3. E-books. I now see the appeal of e-books. I will always prefer the feel and look (and smell!) of print books but I have found that there are some titles available in e-book format that the library doesn’t own in print. I also very much like that nobody can see (that I’m aware of!) what I’m reading, have on hold, or checking out from the library.
My Nook e-reader (Author’s photo)
How about you? Are there things you like or do now that you never thought you would?
~Maria
Eleventh Stack 
What a great post! I love posts that leave you thinking. Thank you for sharing all the new things you found to be enjoying in life. I can relate to the vegan. Who’d have thought I’d ever be eating like that, let alone starting a blog and cookbook on healthy plant based nutrition. I love seeing that others are going along the same journey too, all aiming towards health and happiness. What else do I do now that I never thought I would? I guess once upon a time a saw myself getting a high paying job and living in a flashy place, and now here I am loving life and living my dream of writing and raising a family. I never thought I’d enjoy being a mother as much as I do and gardening! Once upon a time it was a chore that my dad made me do and now I absolutely love it. Go figure!
Thank you for your kind words! Yes, change can sometimes be a great thing, a journey that takes us to unexpected places.
~Maria
Pingback: My Year in Books 2013 | Eleventh Stack
Pingback: Amusing, Whimsical, and Diverting Historical Romance | Eleventh Stack