  To-do lists are popular at the moment because they provide an orderly antidote to the chaos of life. (Comstock) |
Nicole Scaplen knew her fear of public speaking was holding her back when she didn't apply for a job that was perfect for her. One requirement -- that she be a media spokesperson -- struck fear in her heart. "I was so mad at myself," says the 28-year-old St. John's resident.
Enter CBC's new reality show No Opportunity Wasted (NOW), which premieres tomorrow night.
Scaplen appears in the third episode of the 10-part, half-hour series, based on The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan's life philosophy and best-selling book.
Like other Canadian challengers, Scaplen had 72 hours to conquer her fear. During that time she did the previously unthinkable: Performing comic improv before a Second City audience and singing the national anthem in front of 20,000 soccer fans at a Toronto FC game.
"When I look back on it now," she says, "I am just baffled at why I would build something like this up in my mind and limit myself."
Keoghan's "no opportunity wasted" concept fits into a current societal fascination with squeezing the most out of our moments. As the New York Times recently pointed out in an article titled "Ten Things To Do Before This Article is Finished," there has been a surge in personal life lists, as well as books about how they should be conducted, like 1001 Books You Must Read Before you Die and 101 Things to Do Before You Turn 40.
Tackle the list:
As the article points out, the film Bucket List will hit screens in December. It features Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as two cancer patients who tackle their un-dones, including taking a Harley ride and visiting the Great Wall of China.
Robert Thompson, a TV and pop culture professor at Syracuse University, thinks lists are popular at the moment because they provide an orderly antidote to the chaos of life. Reinvention is an old story made new -- and newly urgent -- in North America, he points out, since so many of our ancestors came here to start over.
"You want to do these things, you haven't articulated them, we're now going to whip you into a frenzy," said Thompson. "We are going to whip you into carpe diem (seize the day)."
Dr. Guy Grenier, a clinical psychologist and University of Western Ontario professor, says NOW's 72 hour-hour window is indicative of society's impractical "I want it and I want it now" ethos.
It takes courage and discipline to deal with both our strengths and weaknesses, varied as they may be, he says. But helping people to realize the ability to face fear is what separates those in life who do from those who don't, says Grenier, and "sends an empowering message."
When opportunity knocks, answer:
"I think Keoghan's idea, a bit of a slap in the forehead to remind you that you can get complacent, that you can be getting comfortable," he says, "and forget that you have other opportunities, is a good idea."
NOW's host, Kimberley, B.C.-based adventurer Bruce Kirkby, says he was amazed at what some of the successful challengers have gone on to achieve post-show.
"I had not anticipated seeing people truly change this much," said Kirkby.
Such as Scaplen, who flew into Toronto to serve as master of ceremonies at the NOW kickoff party.
"As long as you take the first step," she says, "it's never as bad as what you have it made out to be in your mind."
