I never liked skiing. There, I said it. I tried it when I was in grade four for the first time, tried another time two years later and was not impressed. The decision to stay away from it for ever seemed a logical one. I skate, climb, run, bike, so I cannot be enlisted in the couch potato category. But I did not feel the need to pursue a sport I was not good at, although one can argue that this is how challenges are born. Yesterday was the day when I put my anxiety aside, and yes, I did mumbled and grumbled all the way to the snowy slope, but did get on it, ski boots and all. And the surprise blew my mind beyond words. I can ski! And I am quite good at it too, for a beginner, I might say. Going downhill with the wind in my face and my legs doing their job in a most amazing way was one of the most powerful experiences of my life. My conviction that I can’t ski was shattered to pieces and my confidence level went through the roof.
Lesson number one: Never say never. I finally know what it means. For me at least, it goes like this: never let anyone tell me that I can’t do a certain thing. Never tell myself that I can’t do something. As long as there is at least one other person doing it, I am capable of doing it too. And if no one does it yet but I still want to go for it, I shall be inspired by the fact that I might challenge someone to shatter their limiting beliefs. It’s a win-win situation for everyone, really.
Lesson number two: Trust myself that I can do everything that I set my mind to. Yes, my mom was right. Too cheesy, you say? Sure, if you choose to look at it that way. It is true that most things will be achieved with a lot of work, but to get there, to be able to put all the work into it, I have to first believe in it and believe in myself. Cheesy or not, the whole concept is a lot harder to accomplish than it seems. The best part is that the more things one does, the higher the confidence levels. The sky is the limit. And then again, some people take it higher. I guess there are no limits…