I’VE NEVER…

31 going on 32 — and there is still so much I want to try.

I had a little realization recently.

I'm 31.

Going on 32.

And there are so many things I've never done.

Not necessarily the huge things.

The ordinary things.

The things that other people seem to have learnt, tried, experienced or ticked off years ago.

For example…

I can't ride a bike.

There. I said it.

I genuinely cannot ride a bike.

I also can't swim properly.

I don't drive.

I've never been on a cruise.

I've never been to a reformer Pilates class.

And, honestly, I haven't seen nearly enough of the world.

For a long time, I didn't really think about it.

Life was busy.

Work was busy.

Creating was busy.

There was always another project, another deadline, another thing to figure out.

You get used to living within what you already know.

And then suddenly you realise:

Wait. There is a whole world outside of this.

I WANT TO BE A BEGINNER AGAIN

I think I've spent a lot of my adult life wanting to be good at things.

To know what I'm doing.

To have the answer.

To look like I have it together.

But maybe there is something really beautiful about being a beginner.

Getting on a bike and wobbling.

Walking into a reformer Pilates class and having absolutely no idea what half the equipment does.

Getting into a swimming pool and having to learn something that most people learnt as children.

Going somewhere completely unfamiliar.

Trying something and being terrible at it.

Laughing.

Trying again.

I want more of that.

I don't want to reach a certain age and realise I spent all of my time waiting until I felt ready.

Because honestly?

I might never feel ready.

SO I'M MAKING A LIST

Not a “before I die” bucket list.

A “why haven't I done this yet?” list.

Things I've been curious about.

Things I've avoided.

Things I've always wanted to try.

Things that sound fun.

Things that scare me slightly.

Things that might completely change my mind.

And things I haven't even thought of yet.

TRAVEL

☐ Visit a country I've never been to before☐ Take a completely spontaneous trip☐ Take a sleeper train☐ Go somewhere purely because I've always wanted to see it☐ Stay somewhere beautiful just for the experience☐ Spend a few days surrounded by nature☐ Take a road trip☐ Travel somewhere where I don't speak the language☐ Take myself on a proper solo adventure☐ Watch the sunrise somewhere I've never been☐ Swim in a sea I've never swum in☐ See the Northern Lights☐ Go somewhere tropical☐ Take a train through a completely new landscape☐ See more of Africa☐ See more of the world, full stop

MOVEMENT & ADVENTURE

☐ Learn to ride a bike☐ Learn to swim☐ Try reformer Pilates☐ Try yoga properly☐ Take a dance class in a style I've never tried☐ Try boxing☐ Go paddleboarding☐ Try surfing☐ Go skiing☐ Do a proper hike somewhere beautiful☐ Try a sauna or thermal spa experience☐ Go sailing☐ Take a hot-air balloon ride☐ Try something that genuinely scares me

FOOD & EXPERIENCES

☐ Take a cooking class☐ Try a cuisine I've never had before☐ Go to a proper afternoon tea☐ Eat somewhere I've always thought was “too fancy” for me☐ Have dinner completely alone somewhere beautiful☐ Try a tasting menu☐ Learn how to make something from scratch☐ Go to a food market in another country☐ Learn to make the perfect cocktail☐ Eat something I've never even heard of before

CREATIVE LIFE

☐ Take a pottery class☐ Try painting☐ Take a photography trip☐ Learn something completely unrelated to my career☐ Go to an art retreat☐ Write somewhere I've never written before☐ Make something purely for fun☐ Take a creative class with strangers☐ Go to a festival I've never been to☐ See a performance in another country☐ Take myself to an exhibition without knowing anything about it

AND THEN THERE'S THE “WHY NOT?” LIST

This is probably my favourite part.

Because there are things I haven't put on the list yet.

Things I haven't even imagined.

Maybe I'll learn to surf.

Maybe I'll discover that I absolutely hate skiing.

Maybe I'll become obsessed with Pilates.

Maybe I'll finally learn to drive.

Maybe I'll go on a cruise and come back wondering why I waited so long.

Maybe I'll take a trip somewhere completely unexpected.

Maybe I'll try something that changes the way I see myself.

Maybe I'll meet someone, somewhere, who introduces me to something I've never even considered.

That's the exciting bit.

I don't want to create the perfect bucket list.

I want to leave room for life to surprise me.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT CATCHING UP

That's probably the most important part.

I'm not writing this because I think I'm behind.

I'm not.

Life isn't a race where everyone gets given the same checklist at 18, 25, 30 and 35.

Some people learnt to swim when they were five.

Some people travelled the world in their twenties.

Some people bought their first car at 18.

Some people have never left their hometown.

Some people have done everything.

Some people are still figuring out what they want to do.

We're all living different lives.

And I'm actually quite excited about mine.

Because perhaps the best thing about being 31 going on 32 is realising that there is still so much first-time left.

WELCOME TO THE EXPERIMENT

So this is me making a little promise to myself.

I'm going to try more things.

I'm going to say yes to experiences that make me curious.

I'm going to let myself be bad at things.

I'm going to travel further.

I'm going to move more.

I'm going to learn.

I'm going to explore.

I'm going to put myself in rooms where I don't already know what I'm doing.

And I'm going to document it here.

Because that's what Urii's Orbit is becoming for me.

Not just a place to talk about where I've been.

A place to document where I'm going.

The places.

The people.

The experiences.

The lessons.

The ridiculous moments.

The beautiful ones.

The things that don't go according to plan.

The things that make me think:

“I'm so glad I finally did that.”

I'VE NEVER…

This is the beginning.

31 going on 32.

Still curious.

Still becoming.

Still figuring it out.

And apparently…

still learning how to ride a bike.

So let's see what happens.

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING I'VE NEVER DONE?

I'm opening up the Urii's Orbit “I've Never…” list to experiences, places, classes, adventures and ideas.

If you're a travel, wellness, lifestyle, hospitality, fitness, culture or experience brand with something you've always wanted people to try, I'd love to hear from you.

I'm not looking for another advert.

I'm looking for a story.

Maybe you've got the thing I've never done.

Maybe we should find out.

URIi'S ORBIT

The places I go. The things I try. The stories I bring back.