Two days back, as I sat in the chair lift transporting me over the stark white slopes, I could feel giant knots in my stomach. My skis dangled heavily off my feet. A moan escaped me as I fell on my back from the chair at dismount. As I began sliding down, I breathed in panicked spurts. Muscles that I didn’t know existed strained and protested, and my heart pounded wildly. I screeched on my skis, wedging them in the brake position the entire way down. I fell, I struggled, I cursed.
It was ski season, and my family had discovered the joy of skiing. “It’s the best way to spend the winter,” my husband insisted. My seven-year-old was already zipping down the slopes. I knew my five-year-old wouldn’t be far behind. For a few weekends now, they abandoned me for the mountains. I either holed up at home or in the lodge. As I watched them come back from their runs, exhilaration writ on their faces, I had a sinking feeling that this obsession was here to stay. Either I made peace with them leaving me behind, or do the unthinkable – join them.
The learning was slow. Just one more step, I reminded myself each time. I cursed, I complained. I fell. I struggled to get up. I wanted to stop. Then my five-year-old said, “Mamma, put on your skis and let’s go”. So, I kept going.
And then it happened. On the umpteenth round, as the ski lift glided higher and higher to the peak, I took a deep breath and sat back. I rocked my feet, dusting the snow off my skis, and felt a song break out within me. I looked around, grateful for the beauty around me. Five minutes later, I leaned forward on the chair and slid down gracefully at the dismount area. As I went down the slope, I felt the cold wind against my cheeks. Suddenly I heard a whoosh and saw my seven-year-old zooming by. “Mamma,” he screamed. Earlier, he had told my husband, “Mamma can do anything.” Then I saw my husband swerve by waving with his poles and behind him my five-year-old screaming in delight. I followed them, crisscrossing down the soft slopes. Still not agile, still not adept, still falling, but skiing.
#skiingseason #nevergiveup #trysomethingnew #2020challenge #winteractivities