I learned this lesson the hard way last week when I went skiing. I hadn’t been downhill skiing for five years even though I’d had new parabolic skis for three of those years. The day was a beauty – sunny, warm and many feet of fresh snow had fallen at Badger Pass. Jim and I were off to share a fun day. What more could a woman want?

If I had been paying attention to my mental chatter, I’d have known that I was setting myself up for a bad time. Why had I found all kinds of excuses to not ski for five years? What was going through my head as I dithered about our departure on the day of our proposed ski adventure? When we got to Badger Pass and learned that I did not get to ski free – even though I was over 65 and it was not a holiday, why didn’t I hear the voice that said, “Oh maybe I don’t have to ski!”

Other thoughts when through my head: “Maybe these aren’t my boots.” (If fact, they weren’t and therefore did not fit my new skis!) After several hours of frustration, thinking “I don’t know what I am doing since I can’t even put on these new skis,”  the lovely people at Badger Pass gave me a free ski rental and instead of jubilation, I thought, “Oh now I really will have to do this and I’m already exhausted!”

So I put on those rental skis and met Jim at the chair lift and took off up the mountain. Thoughts on that part of the trip were, “Gee these are too heavy!” “I hope I remember how to ski!” “I know I will go too fast and not be able to stop!” That last one was the prophecy that got me in trouble. As we slide off the chair lift, I panicked. I almost forgot how to snow plow. Then all the way down the hill, with many stops, I kept thinking, “I can’t remember what to do to turn!” You know that efficient little flick of the ankle that makes that shushing sound? Only my left leg remembered how to do it. I had to pick up my right ski and put it down in the right position. It was exhausting! I was exhausted. All that nay-saying and thinking I didn’t know what to do was coming true.

Really. I did know what to do, but I got exactly what I thought – an exhausting, difficult time where I wasn’t having any fun! What a bummer! Jim was great through it all, giving wonderful support all the way down the mountain. That was the only bright spot of the day other than the drive up and back!

The next day, a friend told me about a book, Skiing with the Whole Body, and he said such a simple thing, “Before you start, just think about how your body needs to move as you go into and out of turns. Then, while standing on the ground in my shoes, do a few of those moves.” Wow! I knew that. It’s something I talk about all the time.

Begin with the end in mind! Imagine what it’s like to have completed your goal and how it is along the way. I knew that and I totally forgot to do it! Instead I ended up sabotaging the fun outing with Jim because I didn’t remember that I get what I think!

I ordered the book, and vowed to try it again. Maybe even this year, if the snow holds out!

© 2009, Jacqueline Hale