It was my first day skiing in years and a crazy day to be out – incredible fog, snow, whatever and visibility was incredibly bad .... I was wishing for wipers on my googles. But I was ok. I was with a friend who was a much better skier and so she led the way – as long as I could see Susan in front and I wasn’t headed towards green, I figured all was fine.
Actually, it was great – great to be back on skiis, flying/flailing down the mountain. I was reminded just how much I do love it. I also clearly remember at one point about half way through the day, feeling good about how I was skiing – getting down the hill well, not a lot of fear/ trepidation about the next bit even though it had been so long. Then I realized the fog and visibility was helping – I couldn’t see the detail of where I was going, how steep, which parts to avoid …. I had no choice but to ‘just go’. And I did. And I was fine. And it was great.
I realized later that ‘just go’ didn’t just apply to my skiing but was also a good mantra for my life at the moment and the travel I knew I wanted to do …. I didn’t want to get ‘stuck’ in Vancouver or fall into my need to over plan (both my usual tendencies). I needed to just go.
Now there is also the question of safety and something I can also speak to in terms of skiing. I’ve never worn a helmet skiing – and I hate wearing one biking. I’m part of the generation that grew up without them. And I resent them. Something about taking away my feeling of freedom – corny as it sounds I love the wind going through my hair as I’m speeding down a hill. On the other hand, I know I need to be safe and that a helmet can be life saving. I wear one biking in the city and I'll likely wear one next time I go skiing. It is a balance of living life – and at the same time appreciating it enough to be safe. I will never take living or being safe to such an extreme that I forgo the other. I hope that makes sense.
And so, I’m off. (only two months later – so still need to work on the speed of ‘just go’ decision making …) yeah!
So now you ask, where am I off to … well, I am going to take my car, 2 months and tour the US and pursue three of my passions – exploring new places, yoga and politics. I’ve always wanted to drive through the US – see the smaller towns and really visit the different parts of the US – find the cultural differences and commonalities that I believe make the US so unique. In particular, I’m intrigued by the southern east coast and the Carolinas, the cowboy country / red states of Wyoming and Montana, the romantic south of Gone with the Wind, just hanging out in New York City and of course the politics of Washington, Boston and Little Rock. So I’m doing the northeast triangle – first diagonally down/across the US to the south east, then up the east coast and back along the northern boarder (after a pitstop in Toronto to see family, friends and a family wedding). I’m not sure of the specifics of where I’ll go – my plan is to let that be driven by the results of my googling ‘iyengar yoga’ in the states I’m hitting next and see where that takes me. That and presidential museums – part of why I’m ok not getting to Texas this trip …. I think that can wait a few years …..
I’ll use this blog to keep track of my journey and share what I find, experience and learn about myself – I apologize in advance as it will likely be a more than a little ‘self indulgent’ … but hey, it’s my blog and I can write what I want …. :-)
I absolutely welcome any and all recommendations – of places to visit (is Graceland really necessary?), stay and eat, any recommended yoga teachers – and let me know if you’re in any of my ‘neighborhoods’ and want to join me for a ride.
