I’ve just returned from a ski holiday where I really felt the freedom, and even though it might seem just another vacay for the average working class hero, I’ve come up with some pretty witty out-takes.
1. Oh, the things we do to feel alive.
It’s pretty funny how the idea of being alive and living life to its fullest had changed with each generation so far. Being on the privileged side of the humanity, we need from time to time small kicks of adrenaline. Of course, I will tell you that traveling the world and breathe and live in different cultures would be the highlight of my life. But ‘till then I take the rush from other small activities…such as snowboarding. I first fell in love with snowboarding in high-school but I pretty much sucked at it until this year.
2. Like everything else in life, learning is difficult.
This year, I was so decided to improve my skills. The first day on the slopes, losing my breath and struggling to catch up my friends, I fell a hundred times until I couldn’t feel my knees and back. I got so frustrated with being so dumb and not catching up some pretty basic snowboarding moves. The second day, I gave up and decided to stay alone for half of the day and ride only a familiar slope. I fell a lot again, hurt myself and finally I gave up and sat on a bean bag for two hours straight until my friends called me to go home.
3. Fear is our worst enemy.
The weather got really bad for the next couple of days and we could barely see 1 m ahead of us. Heavy snowing, strong wind, and foggy view, all were the ingredients of a disaster. All my senses were diminished and I was really scared to ride. I was pretty sure I will break something or bump my head. Being so scared made me realized that this is the feeling that stays between us and success mostly 98% of our lives. I was riding safely like a falling leaf (or should I say failing leaf) and hating my life for being such a coward. Then alcohol happened during lunch break and suddenly everything felt better. Well, I don’t recommend drinking and riding, but sometimes, this is the kick-up that you need to start pumping up your blood. If alcohol gives you courage when you’re out to talk with strangers, it sure works for speeding up your snowboarding game.
4. The “AHA”s. We need them.
Then, it hit me. No, it wasn’t a tree, nor another person on the slope haha. It was something else. The sense of freedom. I’ve started to enjoy the wind hitting my face, the powder snow, the mist that was rising up, the sky that was clearing. I wasn’t just focusing on not falling, I was riding. Towards a tingly sense of freedom that was so warm and fulfilling. I got the moves too, I achieved my goal of the trip. The rest was just extra. I stopped and stared for awhile (as that One Republic song) and finally ENJOYED being there. The breathtaking views, the mountains covered in snowy clothes, so giant and nonchalant, the icy air and frosty smell. Then I started to ride slowly to catch up with my friends. Of course, I fell a hundred times more, but it was different. I wasn’t so afraid of getting hurt, I fell because I risked and tried something new, I fell because I was chasing freedom and even the bruises felt good, as medals of courage.
It’s pretty easy to take for granted a lot of things in this life, but if we focus on the way we feel because of them, we’ll be able to see more than meets the eye. Let’s just…live a little.