I Dare Me: How I Rebooted and Recharged My Life by Doing Something New Every Day

by Lu Ann Cahn

Overview

One woman’s quest to do one new thing every day of the year, what she learned, and what we all can gain from her journey...

In 2009 veteran journalist and eight-time Emmy award winner Lu Ann Cahn was feeling angry and frustrated. The economy was tanking. Her job was changing. Budgets were being cut. She resented the new technology and social media she was being asked to embrace at work. In a word, she felt “stuck.”

Cahn’s daughter encouraged her to try blogging, and after some thought, she decided to write about trying something new every day for a year. Little did she know, that "Year of Firsts" would change her outlook on life.

For 365 days Cahn made a point of doing something she had never done before, some as simple as performing an old task in a new way, some creative and extreme:

Riding a mechanical bull Eating a scorpion
Speaking to a complete stranger on the street
Smoking a cigar
Shoveling horse manure
Zip-lining across a crocodile-infested Mexican lake
Spending a day in a wheelchair
Walking her dog backwards
Taking a drum lesson from a famous 80s rocker

In the process she discovered that "firsts" were the antidote to “stuck.” I Dare Me is Cahn’s journey, but it's more than just a memoir. It challenges readers to confront their own fears, and encourages them to try their own "firsts."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780399161674
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	11/05/2013
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Veteran journalist and eight-time Emmy award-winner Lu Ann Cahn is a reporter for Philadelphia’s WCAU-TV. She’s currently working on special in-depth projects and exclusive high profile interviews for NBC10 News at 11p.m. Lu Ann is admired by her colleagues and viewers for her personal story of beating breast cancer at the age of 35. By going public with her struggle and determination in overcoming this disease, she raised awareness and impressed upon millions of women the importance of breast self-exam and mammography testing. Her 1992 special report, "Breast Cancer: My Personal Story," won her a national Clarion award and two Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmys.

Cahn is an honorary board member of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America and serves as the annual emcee of the foundation’s main fundraising event, the Renaissance Ball. She also works extensively with Living Beyond Breast Cancer.

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

Chapter 1 Running with Strangers in Speedos: Firsts That Overcome Fears 1

Chapter 2 I Got a New "Ad-dee-tood": Firsts for Busy People 26

Chapter 3 Just Say "Yes": Invitation Firsts 43

Chapter 4 Go Somewhere! Do Something!: Firsts That Move You 62

Chapter 5 I Dare Me!: Adrenaline Rush Firsts 82

Chapter 6 Firsts in Class: Learning Firsts 105

Chapter 7 Facebook Is My Facelift: Firsts That Update You 123

Chapter 8 Catching Fireflies: Firsts for the Kid in You 141

Chapter 9 The Weird and the Wacky: Firsts You Probably Won't Do Again 161

Chapter 10 Good Karma: Firsts That Give Back 180

Conclusion 198

My Year of Firsts: A List 201

Resources 215

Acknowledgments 219

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"I love the bold and brave spirit of this book — along with its wit, warmth, honesty, and endearing sense of fearless self-deprecation. In these pages, the author has packed not only a year of courage, but more than enough for a lifetime. I think (and hope) that her journey will inspire many others like it!"
—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love and The Signature of All Things

"I loved Lu Ann Cahn's I Dare Me!  This is a book that can change your life—if you let it!  Her Year of Firsts inspired me, as does the story of her life!  A must-read for every woman I know!"
—Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author
 
“Lu Ann Cahn has written a delightful and helpful guide to all the ways large and small to unstick your life.  Even if you don’t want to eat a grasshopper.”
—Delia Ephron, author of Sister Mother Husband Dog

“Everyone needs a best friend like Lu Ann Cahn - the bold, spontaneous, zany-in-a-good-way friend - who dares you to do what you would never otherwise consider but makes it look so fun you just have to give it a go. You might curse her name while up on that mechanical bull, but you'll end up thanking her for shaking up your life. Packed with laughter, shrieking, and the thrill of the new, I Dare Me is an irresistible guide to making every day an adventure.”                                          
—Patty Chang Anker, author of Some Nerve: Lessons Learned While Becoming Brave

“First first? Buy this book. Then take in Cahn's spirit and try out her plan. It can only do you good.”  
—Judith Sills, Ph.D., author of The Comfort Trap or, What If You’re Riding a Dead Horse
 
“I Dare Me is hilariously inspiring. This book will motivate you step out of your comfort zone and take more life-changing chances to increase your life fulfillment and happiness quotient! You will fall in love with Lu Ann's charm and story-telling style, that is not just entertaining but empowering to say the least!”
—Jen Groover, author of What If & Why Not?

“Lu Ann Cahn has taken the concept of ‘falling into a rut’ and conquered it in the most humorous and accessible way.  From plunging into the ocean on New Year’s Day to eating desserts all day long, she made her year of ‘firsts’ into a guide for anyone who needs to recharge, reboot and find the joy in the quotidian.” 
—Ellen Lubin-Sherman, author of The Essentials of Fabulous

Editorial Reviews

11/15/2013
Using boredom as a prod to action, veteran journalist and Emmy Award winner Cahn started a blog chronicling her decision to try something new every day for a year. Experiences such as riding a mechanical bull, spending a day in a wheelchair, and going to the movies alone brought creativity and excitement back into her life. Cahn also lists some additional ideas to give readers further inspiration. Some of the activities are fairly ordinary, such as finding one's way through a corn maze, but others (entering a high-heel race) are more daring. VERDICT A fun and accessible read for those looking to add excitement to their lives.

Library Journal

"I love the bold and brave spirit of this book — along with its wit, warmth, honesty, and endearing sense of fearless self-deprecation. In these pages, the author has packed not only a year of courage, but more than enough for a lifetime. I think (and hope) that her journey will inspire many others like it!"
—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love and The Signature of All Things

"I loved Lu Ann Cahn's I Dare Me!  This is a book that can change your life—if you let it!  Her Year of Firsts inspired me, as does the story of her life!  A must-read for every woman I know!"

—Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author
 
“Lu Ann Cahn has written a delightful and helpful guide to all the ways large and small to unstick your life.  Even if you don’t want to eat a grasshopper.”
—Delia Ephron, author of Sister Mother Husband Dog

“Everyone needs a best friend like Lu Ann Cahn - the bold, spontaneous, zany-in-a-good-way friend - who dares you to do what you would never otherwise consider but makes it look so fun you just have to give it a go. You might curse her name while up on that mechanical bull, but you'll end up thanking her for shaking up your life. Packed with laughter, shrieking, and the thrill of the new, I Dare Me is an irresistible guide to making every day an adventure.”                                          
—Patty Chang Anker, author of Some Nerve: Lessons Learned While Becoming Brave

“First first? Buy this book. Then take in Cahn's spirit and try out her plan. It can only do you good.”  
—Judith Sills, Ph.D., author of The Comfort Trap or, What If You’re Riding a Dead Horse
 
“I Dare Me is hilariously inspiring. This book will motivate you step out of your comfort zone and take more life-changing chances to increase your life fulfillment and happiness quotient! You will fall in love with Lu Ann's charm and story-telling style, that is not just entertaining but empowering to say the least!”
—Jen Groover, author of What If & Why Not?

“Lu Ann Cahn has taken the concept of ‘falling into a rut’ and conquered it in the most humorous and accessible way.  From plunging into the ocean on New Year’s Day to eating desserts all day long, she made her year of ‘firsts’ into a guide for anyone who needs to recharge, reboot and find the joy in the quotidian.” 
—Ellen Lubin-Sherman, author of The Essentials of Fabulous

From the Publisher

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