I felt a little nuts. After over 12 years, I stared down at the pair of skis strapped to my feet, wondering what in the world possessed me to try it again. My last attempt was back when I was an idealistic newlywed- when impressing my ski-hungry husband was of foremost importance. But soon, my dislike of cold and wet overpowered my desire to impress, especially when I realized he would keep me even if I didn’t ski.
So, why I was here again was a mystery to me – that is until my seven year old hot shot skier flashed me a shining smile and exclaimed “I can’t believe Mom is finally skiing – this is so great!!!”
Let’s face it we will do a lot for love…
And after I relaxed and began to enjoy the weekend (luckily it was sunny and warm and not very wet…), I realized there’s a lot to learn on a ski slope, and not only about skiing:
Lesson 1: Just do it!
I know, the old Nike ad may seem overused, but when you find yourself at the top of a mountain with only one way to get down, it becomes a much more meaningful mantra. My initial reaction was to stand at the top and drill my husband and son on every possible scenario: Which way should we go, what if someone gets in the way, what if I slip and fall, what if I hit some ice, what if I can’t stop: on and on I questioned until finally they were about ready to scream! You can’t over analyze it, they counseled…you just have to do it and learn from what happens.
Isn’t that the best way to make it through life, too? Sure, we women generally prefer more details to less, but when it comes right down to it, for anything to happen we finally have to decide to just do it, and learn from the results.
Lesson 2: Enjoy Your Olympic Moments
The first part of the ski day I could not get off the chair lift without falling and being dragged to the side by my patient yet laughing husband. My knees were bruised, but my ego was bruised more. I was making my way down the slope just fine, but something was keeping me from exiting the chairlift in the graceful manner I wished for.
I got lots of advice from my son: “just stand up and let the chair push you out” and when that didn’t work: “use your poles to push out” and when that didn’t work: “maybe you just weigh too much…” Well, that did it! It became my goal to get off that chairlift in one piece before the morning ended.
I analyzed and I schemed. I prepared myself mentally and planned my attack. Finally, the time arrived. The chair approached landing, I stood, leaned forward, pushed off with my poles and…SUCCESS!!!!
Whoo Hoo! I shouted and shook my poles in the air, celebrating like I’d just won the Gold Medal for chairlift dismount. If they had one to give, my husband and son would have awarded it, as they were hooting and cheering right along with me. The other skiers around us thought us a little odd – but that was okay. It wasn’t their Olympic moment – it was mine.
In real life, it’s important to remember that it may not be big and momentous to others, but that shouldn’t keep us from celebrating our own private Olympic Moments. You’ll know when they happen, and even if others pass them by like an every day event, take the time to shake your hands in the air, jump up and down and party. Those moments don’t happen every day, so don’t waste them!
Lesson 3: Don’t Work so Hard – Relax and Enjoy
After my first day of skiing, I was so sore the only thing I wanted to do was soak in the hot tub and go to bed. But there I was on day two of the three day weekend, at the top of the hill again, muscles screaming and mind rebelling. I started off, attacking the hill like it was a double black diamond – not the simple winding green slope that it was. Eventually, my husband called to me to stop. “There are two ways to get down the mountain,” he counseled. “The hard way, and the easy way. You’re doing it the hard way. You have the moves, now you have to relax and enjoy it a little.” So I did.
I suppose there are two ways to go through life, as well. I figure we may as well relax and enjoy it a little.
Lesson 4: Surround Yourself With Encouragement
We skied in a line, my husband first, leading the way, me next, and my son behind in case I fell. When I did fall, he was right there, spurring me on to get up and try again. When I didn’t fall, he was there, behind me, cheering me on with reassuring phrases such as “Mom, you’re awesome!” and “Way to Go!” If I got too far behind, my husband stopped to wait for me to catch up, and gave me tips on how to make it easier for myself.
In other words, I surrounded myself with people who would not let me fail.
Shouldn’t we do the same in life?
Lesson 5: Know When Enough is Enough.
With skiing, I learned that it’s easy to keep pushing and pushing for the next big conquest. Once I could get off the chairlift, I aimed to pick up speed, then navigate steeper hills. The success was intoxicating, and I found it hard to admit that my goals were too ambitious for my body to keep up with. There was a point to my day where I had to admit that I’d had enough for the time being – that I would be more successful if I waited a few weeks to try it again.
I think we tend to set the same kind of high standards for ourselves every day of our lives, and then get upset when we can’t achieve our goal as quickly as we think we should. But with our full lives and many responsibilities, it sometimes makes sense to put our plans on hold for a moment – until we can pick them up again with renewed enthusiasm.
Probably the most surprising discovery from my weekend ski trip is that skiing is a sport to be enjoyed thoroughly – a wonderful reprieve from the everyday sameness that can be so tedious.
And shouldn’t our lives be the same? So the next time you find yourself at the top of a big hill wondering how you got there and how you’ll get down, remember the lessons I learned in “Ski School” this weekend to find your way:
Just Do It
Celebrate Your Olympic Moments
Relax and Don’t Work So Hard
Surround Yourself With Encouragement
Know When Enough is Enough
And, most importantly…
Enjoy yourself thoroughly –Your whole life can be a wonderful reprieve!
Sue Dickinson is a mom, a business woman, and the founder of www.Unlimited Mom.com, a web site and e-newsletter designed to celebrate the many facets of Mom - her family, her work, and her personal development. Sue is also the author of the book: "What's a Mom to Do? Overcoming the Urge to Put Your Life on Hold", which can be purchased at unlimitedmom.com
