Background: I’ve lived in my current neighborhood for over a decade, yet for some reason I can’t explain, I’ve never stepped inside the specialty cheese shop across the street from one of my favorite restaurants. I’ve walked and driven past it a million times. I’ve even parked in front of it and peered in the front window. Friends rave about this place, about its offerings and its owners. What’s it going to take to get me in the door?
This week’s Nudge.
As always, make this your own. Maybe this is the week you visit a new-to-you branch of your local library, or the knitting shop that seems to call out to you, or the tiny historic building you’ve always meant to explore.
I wish you a fun adventure!
What Happened: I was so pumped for this Nudge, I even got dressed up to go out! I arrived at the shop just as it was scheduled to open at 10 am on Monday, only to discover that they are closed on Mondays. Phooey. And pivot! I decided instead I would check out a tiny wine shop on the way home, only to discover there was no parking in that area from 10 to noon on Mondays. Re-pivot.
Tuesday morning I got in my car with fresh intentions, and my efforts were greatly rewarded. As soon as I walked across the threshold, I knew I was in a special place. More than just a cheese shop, it was a tiny grocery with a spectacular array of cheeses, sandwiches, and gourmet offerings.
That wasn’t all. I spotted a sign that advertised “We have French butter.” Oh. Mon. Dieu!
After a lovely chat with the proprietor, a man with whom I hope to be on a first-name basis one day, I left with a small slice of Manchego cheese and a $7 package of butter. An extravagance, perhaps, but my total cost came to less than $12 and my mouth watered all the way home.
I treated myself to a lunch of kings and queens. Not fussy or expensive, but oh-so-very-special. Every single bite was delicious.
The Ah-Hahs: A delight for all my senses. The “discovery” of another neighborhood treasure. The possibility of more culinary adventures in my future. It took me only 10 years to make it happen.
This is why I do 52Nudges.
When I got stressed, I wanted to “relax” with a “break.” When I got bored, ditto. When friends forwarded interesting articles, I wanted desperately to stay informed and reply with my opinions; instead, I set them aside to look at next week. When “BREAKING NEWS” arrived in my email inbox, I could have given in and gotten my celebrity fix, but I got better at moving it to trash before getting sucked in.
What Happened: Interestingly, it was a little challenging getting four $5 bills. I had to go to two places to get change!
Speaking of great small bookshops, I’d like to give a shout-out to 
Ah-Hahs:
Ah-Hahs: I love how Nudges surprise me, how what I expect to experience goes out the window. I thought this one would be a simple act of self-care. Instead, it was hard for me to do, which was a little disappointing. I did my best, but will admit I was fidgeting and distracted. Which makes me think maybe I need to give myself facials more frequently, for the health of my skin and my soul.
