Yesterday, for the first time in 2 years, I hit the slopes at Ski Apache in Mescalero, NM. Today, it was painful to toss the covers off and get out of bed. Tumbling downhill Snowboarding really takes it out of you, but it was a blast! As I listened to my more seasoned friends and the resort's instructors, I realized that many guidelines in snowboarding can be used in everyday life.
1. Set your sights in the direction you want to go, and do not stray. It's been proven that you will generally travel in the direction on which you are focused, voluntarily or involuntarily.
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| skiapache.com |
3. Better safe than sorry. I was the only one in my group who opted to rent a helmet. It looked kind of nerdy. I was also the only one who flipped and went airborne. Thank God for my cautious nature.
4. Never give up. In fact, expect and accept failure. At some point, you will fall. You're fighting against greater forces. Like gravity. So just anticipate the falls, and brace yourself to get back up, despite the fact that you will inevitably fall again.
5. Find your balance. It is the only way to stay afloat. Stay attuned to your own needs and strengths. Know how much is too much, and you will eventually know how much is just right.
6. Your greatest opponent is yourself. Always. It is not a competition. Nobody around you is worried about going faster or smoother than you do. The more experienced people are worried only about bettering themselves. They just hope you keep out of their paths. The less experienced people are focused on not falling again. The only person over whom you must prevail is your current self.
"In the mountains, the shortest way is from peak to peak; but for that you must have long legs." - Friedrich Nietzsche
