Moving to Europe was always our dream but it happens that we were able to do it during a trying time in our lives. What was otherwise a dream come true turned into a quest for healing, especially for my husband who has suffered anxiety since I’ve known him.

Lucky for him, I am a wife that drags him to all kinds of things he would not otherwise do. Reiki, Accupuncture (which he hates), psychotherapy, meditation classes, family constellation therapy, running classes. The most recent thing that I have forced upon him is Portuguese!

Of course, living in Portugal he wants to learn Portuguese but he prefers podcasts and apps. I do not believe that you can learn proper grammar and writing from apps. There is just no substitute to a good teacher in a proper classroom.

I recently heard a therapist touting the benefits of trying new things. When you seek out new experiences, it rewires the neurons in the brain and helps one heal from trauma. We have definitely experienced this through language and I am grateful for it every day.

Recently I had a day where I was really struggling to pull myself out of a depressing spiral. But then I went outside and had a conversation with someone in Portuguese and it took me away from the negative thoughts that I was having in English. I couldn’t believe how much I instantly felt better.

I read Amber Scorah’s wonderful book, Leaving The Witness. She writes about how learning Mandarin forced her to excavate her Westernized brain, which had the unintended consequence of making her reevaluate her religious beliefs. I thought that this was a brilliant way to think of learning language. It replaces a thought system and changes you irreversibly.

We needed to see ourselves in a new light, not victimized, shamed, or attacked for a crime we neither committed nor foresaw. Speaking a new language has helped crowd out the painful thoughts that were on repeat in English with far simpler ones in Portuguese. I don’t know how to sabotage my mindset in Portuguese yet.

So now I am a new experience junkie, seeking to reclaim my power by allowing myself to be vulnerable. I have learned to cook baccalau, I joined an expat group for women, I started running, I went to lunch with a group of ladies I did not know who did not speak English. I also volunteer at my kids’ school library reshelving books. It is not the noblest of volunteer work but I find it so peaceful, just me, my AirPods, and the Dewey Decimal System.

I don’t know you but chances are that you’ve had things to overcome in your life too. In which case, I encourage you to seek out new experiences at every opportunity! Learn that language you’ve always wanted but go to an actual class where others are earnestly doing the same. Make friends with those people if you can. Take an exercise class that you might otherwise find intimidating. Try an instrument. Take up a new sport. Try writing something you’d like to share. Volunteer somewhere. Take yourself out of the life you work so hard to control with a new experience and I promise it will heal you in noticeable increments over time.

I would love it if you share your healing journey through new experiences in the comments or the social tool of your choosing!