One Turn at a Time: Wisdom Gleaned from Skiing
Earlier this month, I went on an annual ski trip with my husband and some friends. I am an amateur skier who started skiing as an adult less than 10 years ago. Over the years, as I move at a snail’s pace down a gentle mountain slope, I’ve realized that the lessons I’ve learned while skiing have come back to me again and again in so many areas of my life.
These are some of the lessons that I’ve learned over the years:
Courage and Incremental Improvement: Skiing has taught me that to improve, I have to have courage and take risks. But not stupid. Improvement that lasts (ie doesn’t break bones) is done incrementally.
Balance is Key: Balance is a really big deal. Once you find it, you love it. But it can be really hard to find and you have to keep working on it. It requires continuous effort and practice.
Stepping Back to Move Forward: Sometimes we need to step back and rely on what we know to regain confidence and clarity. It's okay to take a moment to reassess and remember that we're truly okay.
Check Your Ego and Follow Leaders: Assuming that following a senior skier will make things easier is a fallacy filled with error. Skiing teaches us to check our egos and be humble.
Embracing Risks and Learning from Falls: If you take risks, you will fall. Cursing is fine. Pay attention to what word you use, as it will indicate how bad it is.
The Importance of Friendship: Fun things are best done with good friends... and a lunch break with a special drink;
Setting Goals and Direction: If we know where we want to go, we must point ourselves in that direction.
Taking One Turn at a Time: One turn at a time is all that really matters to move forward.
Celebrating Achievements: Arriving at the destination gives you a chance to look back and see everything that you’ve done.
I’m grateful for the chance to learn again and again the wisdom of the mountains to step into the world with courage, balance, and joy.
Be well!
Stephanie
