There's something that has been weighing pretty heavily on me lately...why are people so hesitant to try something new and unfamiliar?

In this, I'm talking about a lot more then games, or card games, or Conquest of Arthenia specifically. I'm talking about anything. New sports/activities, new career, new friends, new lifestyle, new drink, new whatever. We're all trapped in our prospective bubbles.

Take a tour around to your local bowling alley, tennis courts, swimming pool, bars, coffee shops, parks. Most of the people you see are regulars. To me, the fear of venturing out and trying something new defies all logic.

New Equals Growth
At their core, new experiences equal personal growth. Consider someone who has been to a dozen foreign countries, or even other states, as opposed to someone that's never been outside their own city. The former individual has a wealth of different experiences, thoughts, understandings of cultures, and much more. Or to take it to an even more extreme case, consider someone who visits various spots in their own city versus someone who won't leave their own house! The latter individual is completely crippled in terms of personal and sensory experiences.

Simply put, more is more. And more has an exponential effect, because you can build on each experience with more experiences, creating both those individual experiences and new revelations based on the combined musings.

Apathy Toward the New
At first, I thought this rejection of fresh and new experiences was fear. Fear of failure--people that suck at bowling don't go to the bowling alley because they don't want to get embarrassed. A rift occurs, and people are too self-conscious to venture into the new.

But I don't think that's the half of it. I think more than fear, it's apathy. Most people simply don't have the motivation to strike out for the sake of striking out. If there isn't a clear, short-term benefit, why do it?

Think of the concept of learning a new language. What's the first thought that comes to mind? "It's so much work," most likely! And the return isn't obvious. But, ask anyone who has learned a new language whether they regret doing so, and they'll say no.

Commit to Trying
For the next week, commit to trying new things. New food, new adventures, new spots, new people. And yes, of course, new games too! If these ventures are unsuccessful, you'll have learned valuable lessons about yourself. And if they're successful, you'll have added fresh new experiences into your bubble. So it's really a win-win.