This afternoon I skied with friends from Mont Ripley. Year after year I work in the ski shop, get a season pass as a perk, and never use it. I use to tell myself I was afraid of getting hurt, and as much as I didn’t like to admit it, it was my stumbling block. Then I joined roller derby three years ago. Welp, there went that excuse.
I skied that next year, once, because a brand rep from SCOTT more or less guilted me into it (he was kinda hunky so it was a little harder to say no). It was fun (and scary) and I was glad I did it.
I skied once last season because our ski instructors needed a guinea pig. That was also fun (and scary) and I’m glad I did that, too.
Today I skied again. End of the year party for the staff, and I thought, why the hell not. Roller derby has made me less and less fearless, and today when I started thinking, “ahh, what if I can’t get on the lift right, what if I forget how to skate, what if I fall down, what if I can’t stop, what if I look silly” I just remembered that roller derby use to make me think the same things, and I fell, and I couldn’t stop, and I looked silly then, and I’m still alive and still love roller derby, so what’s stopping me now?
Anyway, practicing taking fear on head to head within derby has led me to experiencing more in life. Taking opportunities presented to me despite unknown outcomes, and bonding with people by sharing experiences together have really been some of the best payoffs for that practice.
I truly had a lot of fun today. I skied with my little peaceful friend, Judy, my beau, Jonathan, and even took a run down Danny Boy after some encouragement from my best hill pals. Very thankful for all my friends and the great crew that is Mont Ripley.
For all of you who know me, next season, when you ask, “Hey do you every go out and ski?” and I give you some sort of silly answer about how, like, “I’m a gravity-fearing terrestrial-type” can you tell me to knock it off, and remind me that skiing is truly fun, amazing to share with friends, is one of the greatest experiences this beautiful place has to offer, and that it’s a GIFT to be appreciated?