When was the last time you tried something completely new? We've written about the mental and physical perks of pursuing things we're bad at, and developing new hobbies.

• Axios chief operating officer Allison Murphy took up ice skating last fall, and now skates 3x a week at the MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va., where the Caps practice. Allison's tale:

Staring down a 40th birthday, I wanted to push out of my comfort zone. I picked ice skating — awesome exercise that builds balance, strength and flexibility.

Why it matters: I was worried about getting old and being boring. I realized: My life will be exactly like this for another 40 years unless I decide to do new things.

• I also like hockey and figure skating. And I hate the heat. So ice seemed like an ideal environment for exercise.

Being a total beginner has taught me more than skating skills. Three lessons:

1. 🧠 Learning isn't losing.

On Day One, I locked my knees so hard I got dizzy and had to sit out for five minutes. "Wow, I suck at this," I thought.

• Reality check: I don't suck at ice skating. I'm a beginner who's learning. This is the elusive "learning mindset" — a concept that's easy to hear, but hard to follow. If you're a Type A, competitive human (Oh, hi!), it's especially hard.
• But the rink is a safe zone with zero stakes or judgment. It's the perfect place to practice glides, snowplow stops and a learning mindset. The practice has helped me apply that perspective to other parts of my life.

2. 📝 Goals get smaller; victories feel bigger.

As a total newbie, my only option is to focus on fundamentals. Anything else is objectively beyond my ability. This is humbling — then freeing.

Zoom in: Beginner skating is a sequence of straightforward goals.

• There's no choice to make. You must glide on two feet before you can glide on one. You must glide on one foot before you can start crossovers.
• Achievement is visible. You know when you've nailed it. You know when you haven't — because falling on ice hurts.

Counter this with most of our day jobs, filled with complex problems with elusive progress. The simplicity is refreshing.

3. 🙋 Ask for help.

The first time our class tried to skate backwards, most of us didn't move. How do you ... go?!

• Where does momentum come from? Knees? Hips? Blade edges? We were stationary objects.

I've now had many skaters explain backward movement, each in their own way. This has helped me find my rhythm.

The bottom line: If you don't ask for help, you don't move. Metaphorically and literally.

📬 We want to hear from you: Tell us what you've taken on as a grown-up beginner, in Smart Brevity — two sentences or less. Include your name and hometown: [email protected].

• Want to learn to skate? Check out U.S. Figure Skating's Learn to Skate.

"I captured this sunset from my campsite on Shadow Mountain in Grand Teton National Park last July during a road trip with one of my oldest friends," reader Mary Ennis writes.

• "We traveled from our hometown in southern Indiana all the way to Seattle, stopping in South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon. Watching the moon cycle through all its phases as we crossed the country is something I'll never forget."

Happy weekend!