Lauren van Vliet, author

There’s a saying that everything we need to know for life, we learned in kindergarten. I definitely learned a few handy things after kindergarten, but there are lots of life lessons to be gleaned from childhood. Over the course of this sporadic series, I’ll share some of those life lessons.

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When I was nine-years-old, my family took a trip to the Netherlands for a huge family reunion. It had a lot of firsts: first flight, first time meeting a lot of the extended, extended family (my great aunts and uncles, and second cousins), first time leaving the country, and first time trying a lot of new foods.

Growing up in a Dutch-Canadian family, I didn’t realize some of the foods I ate weren’t perfectly normal. Bread with sprinkles was probably got the most raised eyebrows. But there were speculaas (the windmill shaped cookies), chocolate letters at Christmas, and cheese on bread (as an open faced sandwich) enjoyed any time of the day.

On the trip, we had one rule in particular: that we had to try all the new food once.

I was already a pretty adventurous eater, so nine-year-old me didn’t put up much of a fuss (or at least I don’t remember putting up a fuss). But the rule came into play once.

I didn’t like pancakes as a child – I still don’t know why. One morning for breakfast, my great-aunt and -uncle made pancakes. If I recall correctly, I was going to be allowed off the hook. I didn’t eat pancakes at home, so I didn’t have to eat them for breakfast that morning. But I wanted to follow the rule, so I agreed to try them.

The pancakes we were served were more like crepes, with some fresh fruit and icing sugar. I can’t remember exactly how I responded, but I vaguely remember not totally hating them.

Over time, I came to like pancakes, but I still come back to that rule on a regular basis. But now I add the caveat: within reason (because there are some things I just don’t need to try). If, after I tried it, I don’t like it, I can stop, put it back, never eat/use/try it again.

Keeping this rule in the back of my mind keeps me trying new things, experimenting with new ideas or methods. It keeps life interesting, and thanks to it, I’ve discovered that I like working out (most of the time, anyway), I love West Coast Swing dancing, and sushi.

Actually, it’s this rule that started me with blogging in the first place. And, the literal application of this rule that made me realize I’m a bit of a foodie. Because of it I learned that I like a lot of different ethnic cuisines.

Sometimes, like with the pancakes (and sushi), it takes time to learn to like it (more on that in another rule). And sometimes, I learn very quickly that I don’t like something at all (and never learn to), like coffee or black licorice.

But that’s okay. I don’t have to love (or even like) everything, I just need to give it a fair chance, and be open minded about what the results might be. Because really, how will I know if I don’t like something unless I give it a fair chance.