Time to walk the talk. I am often found suggesting that we all become joiners, that we say yes more often, that we take a chance on meeting new people and learning new things. Humm, mea culpa time here. I live in Park City, Utah, where there happens to be a nice ski area. I’ve been skiing since I was around 12, and I ski pretty well. I am also in very good physical condition. So when an acquaintance invited me to join the Master’s Ski Race Classes this year, I thought: sure, that could be fun. The program is for a couple of hours each morning, daily for the length of the season. Learn something new, make new friends, go fast, have fun. All good, right? Then the resistance kicked in.
What if the others don’t like me? What if I don’t like them? Some of these people are former pro racers, and why am I thinking that at 64 I can learn any of this? I may get hurt. I may not be able to do any part of this as I am not a natural athlete. This went on for a couple of weeks as troublesome background noise inside my mind. Then it dawned on me: you don’t want to do this because it involves a risk to all of the above. And this is why I must absolutely do the program.
I have been assured that because of my comparatively low skill level I won’t be going all that fast, so my risk of severe injury is quite low, although falling is assured. A completely risk-free life is also completely boring. I must admit, that there is nothing like the possibility of very real downside consequences to focus the mind on the present moment, which is something I can very much use these days. So, game on, count me in.
Onward and upward,
David
