Part 1 - Memory Stacking
Reporting back fresh off a couple of ski trips - one weekend in Mammoth, CA and another week-long trip in Snowbird, Utah. Both filled with great people, powdery snow, strong drinks, and newly formed lifelong memories.
The trips got me thinking about what I'm labeling "memory stacking" – this accumulation of experiences that become the currency of my relationships and ultimately the bedrock of my life. After each trip there are dozens of moments, phrases, and jokes that can be mentioned amongst those groups and will be met with a laugh. From the journey to the mountain, the morning YouTube videos, the chairlift conversations, the dinners and nights out - everything leads to memories that enriched the relationships. These can' be bought or manufactured, they are priceless. They're the result of spending time with people and being involved and present. They are a gift that you can look back on forever with those involved.
Mammoth fellas
Utah fellasPart 2 - Having to fall
Something my friend said on the slopes stuck with me: "If you're not falling, you're not sending it hard enough." While my friend is an idiot, he's also a genius and spot on with that statement. I could do routes that I'm comfortable with and never have a problem but that wouldn't help me level up my skills. To do that, I'd have to actually do harder those routes and encounter their obstacles - the steeper slope, bigger moguls, faster speeds. Inevitably, I'd have to fail (read fall) and assess why and how to do better the next time. Beyond the mountain, that holds true for almost any area in life. I've never progressed at something without failing in some capacity along the way. It's normal, we don't come fully baked. Life is about challenging yourself and failure will naturally come as a result. Learn, get back up, apply the knowledge you've gained on the next go.
I believe that a life without falls has a low ceiling. I must fall in order to advance and live a better, fuller, richer life.
All in all I'm making a commitment to stack more memories, attempt more challenges, and appreciate the falls along the way. They're proof I'm pushing my limits, and that's far more satisfying, in my opinion, than sleeping through this life. Worst case, it makes for a good story during the next trip.