Hi, David - fascinating post, both about the VASS program and about stretching ourselves as part of our continuous learning.

First, I have to ask this personal question:  Does VASS include the category I belong to:  Spastic Inept?

More seriously, your point about engaging in new and different things to stretch ourselves is excellent.   Many of us (me particularly) desire the tried-and-true, the comfortable, the known ... we do not give ourselves enough credit for being able to learn new things and to connect the dots between distaff experiences.

Possibly the most important specific point you make is exemplified in this sentence:  "Imagine being completely blind, having to 100% rely on someone else for your safety, and then try and get on a 100-person ski gondola?"   When we engage in "imagine" thinking, we are making that leap to looking at something from a different perspective ... and that is where the gold nuggets of learning lie.

Thanks for a very enjoyable and useful post:)

John