Guess I’ve been a bit of a slacker on the blog these days (months). It’s been a bit of a rough winter for all around here. The lack of snow has taken its toll on bodies and mental health, injuries have defined a larger part of the season for some, and broken friendships have left a small town feeling even smaller. The daily grind can leave one feeling a little lost or unfound.
However, as we make our way, day to day, I like to think that we are not lost - we are simply wandering.
Most of my life I have been a goal driven person. I see the tangible outcome in the immediate future; the ends justify the means. In school: study hard to do well on a final, do well on a final to get a good grade, get good grades to raise GPA, raise GPA to get into a good school. Or in snowboarding: train hard to do well in a competition, do well in a competition to move to the next level, move to the next level to make it to national television, gain publicity to make it to the Olympics. When accomplishing the small goals, it is easy to see the progression. Sometimes there are set backs, but the solution to that is simple: work harder. The problem: there is really no end goal. So get into a good school, get a good job, make it to the Olympics… is that it? Is this the traditional proven equation for success?
What if I want to change the world?
Great… talk about the intangible…
I like to think that this season has focused on the intangibles and the untraditional. After the heartbreak and bone-break of last season, I personally chose not to compete as much this season. I wanted to get my feet underneath me and figure out what I want to do with this sport. As an athlete, most of my life I have looked to optimize performance. I have learned my strengths and my weaknesses, and learned as a 5’0” girl, I am not necessarily going to be the best the traditional way. Well, turns out these lessons translate beyond sports. So I came into the season looking for a different path, thinking I would take the month of January to train hard and then begin to compete at different levels, do some filming, and explore my options. Little did I know, the moment I stepped foot into this town I would get the rug pulled from beneath my feet and left upside down with my head spinning. The plan to come in cool, calm, and collected was upturned really quickly.
The month of January was rough. One of the worst I’ve seen in a while. If you asked some of us around here, we might have told you the world was ending. The good thing about a terrible month, is that it really sets the bar low, so compared to January, February was fantastic. A few of us took a spontaneous trip to Colorado to hit our first truly urban features in Denver. We did some filming and learned new tricks. I returned to the Bay to pick our amazing team of new counselors for Camp Kesem with the most amazing and supportive team ever. There were definitely rough patches, but all fairly manageable. So far, March is proving to be pretty good as well with a snowstorm every day (it’s March 3).
As the rough patches have come, we have all been forced to keep moving. Wake up, work out, snowboard, do work, read a book, hang out. Don’t forget to laugh. It’s okay to cry because it means you are living, but just don’t stop. Find solace in the little things. Love your friends. Positively influence others. Live in the moment but keep in mind the future.
It’s not about the heartbreak; it’s about the recovery. Sh*t happens to everyone, we can’t really control that. However, how you deal with it helps to create the person you are and want to become. We can’t control other people and what they do, but we can control who we are and what we do. Just keep going and stay true.
So as March begins and I have one month left here in Park City, I’m just going to keep moving, keep exploring, and keep taking advantage of the opportunities that come my way. Just because there is no snow or no competition does not mean this season is a waste. Crossfit Open just started and I began my day yesterday with 65 snatches! The goal may not be in sight at the moment, but I’m going to continue to wander with a purpose. The light at the end of the tunnel gets a little brighter everyday. In fact, I’m even starting to enjoy the tunnel. Tunnel systems are fascinating J
Hopefully, will soon be able to follow up with some footage and pictures!
“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.”
~ Tolkein
