5 lessons learned from a first time skier
#1 You can’t be what you can’t see
A valuable life lesson I learned when I was skiing was that you can’t be what you can see. When I was preparing to ski, I watched several YouTube videos, and the instructor stated on several occasions to keep your head up. Keep looking forward and prepare for what is going to come. When it comes to skiing, it means to look at the terrain, pay close attention to how you may need to adjust and traverse it. The only way to prepare is to keep the head high and body in alignment to adjust to it. You have to stay centered. I learned on that mountain, 5.14.2019 that no matter what I encounter, I have to keep looking forward and prepare for it to the best of my ability. I have to hold my head high to see what’s in front of me. I can’t keep looking back, or I will miss what is in front of me, the available opportunity. The view I witnessed was monumental, and it changed my life.
It’s about being capable of moving forward and adjusting to whatever life throws our way, yet you can only focus on what’s directly in front. That’s it, doesn’t mean you don’t have the skills or even develop the skills for more, but you focus. I had a vision to ski, and the hardest part at times was moving from the vision to implementation [2]. It takes dedication and commitment to the experience. I think we struggle with it, at times, as we navigate our doubts and fears. Observe what you see while also acknowledge that it is okay to move forward [3]. Give yourself permission!
I took time as I was on that mountain, and I envisioned myself just being one with the snow and the environment. Once I envisioned it, it happened. By the end of my ski lesson, I was passing up the ski instructor. I saw myself doing it, and I allowed myself to have the experience. At that moment, I realized I had become complete in all facets of what makes me…me. I was quite happy about that!
#2 Skiing is about our harmony with ourselves
There is a certain level of harmony that occurs on the mountain. A connection occurs that reminds you of the person you are from the past to the present, to the future. It reminds you of all the many things that have led to the moment that you have, a moment of universalism. Universalism represents the value of our uniqueness [5]. As I was on that mountain, I understood myself better. I understood all of me without any exclusion, for I recognized what it took to get that mountain.
I had never been skiing before going this past year, and it changed my life. I recognize why everything has led to this moment, and it no longer is that bad. I learned to forgive myself for all the things I have done in the past because I understand why I took every step that I made. I was well aware that I no longer needed to judge myself. I was aware in that exact moment of my evolution, and that at this moment I am only becoming more of me. I am curious as to what that entails; I respect the ebb and flow of life.
#3 Skiing is the ebb/flow of life
Life is cyclical. We go through good times or bad times based on our perspective. When I first started skiing, turning was a challenge. I quickly learned that I needed to use my hips to turn. It was a challenge at first because I hadn’t used that muscle very often, but I knew I needed to keep my body in alignment. On that mountain, I reflected on the many situations that I had in my life that made me have to adjust. I reflected on the somewhat challenging moments where I learned the most. I was reading in Robert Kiyosaki’s’ book Cash Flow Quadrants, and he mentioned that success was a horrible teacher [7]. I had to agree with him. I didn’t grow as much in moments of triumph, but I learned more about myself in obstacles. I also feel that when I do reach the overall goal, knowing that I pushed myself to a new level makes the win that much sweeter. I reflect in each moment as I grow, and I appreciate it because I expanded and learned more about myself than I ever would have before. It influenced my quality of life. I also understood that ebb and flow is relative.
Once I was able to focus on my core and really get centered. I realized that I got this. I realized that I could determine my success by just relaxing and allowing my body to flow with its natural energy flow. It had changed everything by the time I was towards the end I was bypassing the ski instructor, enjoying the ride. It was amazing. It didn’t mean I didn’t fall. I fell countless times, but I was determined! I kept getting back up.
#4 Skiing, there will be falling, but you get up!
The ebb and flow of life at times are sometimes being willing and open to let go of our identities. [9]. We let go of this fear-stricken identity that we can’t do more. We can’t be more or that we aren’t more. I let go of my fear, and I accepted being willing to fall and fall again. I lost count how many times I fell. I even had one where I was rolling. I couldn’t do anything but laugh! It was fun. I felt like a kid again, just enjoying life. I learned that I could get caught up in the fall or be more focused on enjoying the moment that I had. Now don’t get me wrong, I do not deny that you can injure yourself in skiing. You can, but you can also get injured walking down the street. You can get injured driving your car. All we have is this moment, this moment right now that you are reading this blog, that is it! There is nothing more and nothing less.
The moments mattered to me at that moment, and every time that I fell, I got better at getting back up. It got to the point I didn’t need any help at all. I got up on my own. As human beings, we have this natural ability to anticipate future moments [10]. I knew that I was going to get better if I kept addressing what was holding me back, which I did with my ski instructor. It also got to the point that I stopped falling as much. I knew I just needed to keep looking forward and concentrate instead on enjoying the view.
#5 Enjoy the view
Concentrating on enjoying the view ties back into enjoying the moment. The view of the mountains was so enchanting. There were many moments where I had to remind myself that I was focusing on the wrong thing, such as falling or even what everyone else was thinking. I had to focus on the experience I was having at the moment and recognize that these moments are life. Life is about experiencing these moments to the fullest and feeling good about what life has to offer. I realized that I had a choice. I had an opportunity to enjoy the view.
In summary, there are various points described in this article that are interconnected. I didn’t want these five life lessons to be separate; some of these points depend on each other. I am just on a bit of a quest for everyone to be able to have an experience of a lifetime. It was a life changing experience that I believe everyone should know that they can have. It changes you, and life becomes so much easier to manage with these perspectives.
[1] 42Courses. (2019). The difference between idea vs vision. Retrieved from https://blog.42courses.com/home/2016/12/18/the-difference-between-idea-vs-vision
[2] Schmidt, A. H., Jr. (2017). Resistance is overcome in one dialogic OD model (Appreciative Inquiry). International Journal of Organization Theory and Behavior, 20(1), 1–49. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJOTB-20-01-2017-B001
[3] Bock, T. P. (2014, 2014). Business transformations disruptors: An investigation at the military strategic command level, Huntsville.
[4] Alexanderedu. (2019). Greek language lessons in Athens. Retrieved from http://alexander-edu.org/en/2019/01/words-travel-the-word-harmony-in-11-languages/
[5] Ismail, M. (2016). Cultural values and career goal of Gen-X and Gen-Y: A conceptual framework. Global Business and Management Research, 8(2), 1–18.
[6] Grant, R. (2015). A return to your genuine self: Ebb & flow of life. Retrieved from http://rachelgrantcoaching.blogspot.com/2015/01/loving-ebb-flow-of-life.html
[7] Kiyosaki, R. (2012). Rich Dads Cashflow Quadrant. Scottsdale, AZ: Plata Publishing.
[8] Keaton, B. (2014). Laugh a little, fall a lot. Retrieved from https://brettonkeating.com/2014/03/10/laugh-a-little-fall-a-lot/
[9] Peticca-Harris, A., & McKenna, S. (2013). Identity struggle, professional development and career: A career/life history of a human resource management professional. The Journal of Management Development, 32(8), 823–835. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JMD-08-2011-0100
[10] Stravos, J. M., & Cole, L. M. (2013). Soaring towards positive transformation and change. The ABAC ODI Visions.Action.Outcome, 1(1), 10–34.
[11] Tui. (2019). Beginner ski holiday. Retrieved from https://www.tuiski.co.uk/beginner-ski-holidays/
