I went skiing for the first time this weekend. Once, twenty years ago, I slapped on a set of skis (without any instruction) and slid down a big hill on my butt, but I’m pretty sure that doesn’t count as experience.
But, seriously, shouldn’t it be obvious that reversing direction slows that trajectory?
My mind kept returning to the simplicity of the concept. When life is moving too fast. When things are out of control–slow down and turn around. Go back to the place and the speed where you feel comfortable.
Wait for it…you know it’s coming…
In my mind, being a debut author is an exhilarating, once in a lifetime, wind-in-your hair kind of journey and sometimes–without warning–you find yourself traveling downhill way too fast. I’ve seen people throw on their snow plows while leaving a smoke trail behind. They rapidly burn through all the energy that they have. I’ve seen people crash when they couldn’t put the breaks on fast enough. I’ve felt myself have those moments where things begin to happen way too quickly and in a panic, I make a not so advantageous snap decision. And then I’m kicking myself afterwards.
I think that from now on, I’m going to try to remember what I learned on the slopes. I don’t need to panic, I just need to make a gentle turn and head up hill until I’m moving slow enough that I can make a thoughtful decision about where to point my skis next. I need to use my environment and my skills to my best advantage. There is nothing wrong with setting your own pace and being comfortable. It’s a lot more fun to make it down the hill dry and on your skis than it is to roll down on your face–cold and wet–too afraid to ever try it again. :o)
So, have you ever been skiing? Best tip? Funniest story? Biggest fear?
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I went snowboarding once. The lift up the slope was the kind you straddle and it pulls you up with your board on the snow. I was going up with my friend, and just after we'd passed the first rise and were out of sight of our group bellow, our snowboards collided and we got thrown off the lift, and out boards got stuck on the other side, so that we were dragged up the mountain on our stomachs until we could get our boards loose. It was hilarious and terrifying at once. :]
OMG!!!! Sounds like something that would absolutely happen to me!!! :o)