After struggling to get through the year 2020, I knew I needed an outlet to make me feel alive again. I decided to invest in snowboarding. I bought all the gear I needed and found a group of friends with a season pass to go with together. Although snowboarding presented several challenges, I fell in love with the sport immediately because I knew it was going to help my personal growth off the slopes as well.
You need to think less and commit to a decision.
Being an overthinker poses many challenges in life: Overthinking holds you back from going all in, creates fear of the endless possibilities of what can go wrong, causes stress and anxiety, and decreases your confidence. When you're at the top of the slope, you can't sit there and think about what can go wrong. Every negative thought has a consequence. If you look down and think about how scary it is, then you'll probably fall a lot more. You have to make the commitment to go down the hill, land your jump, or go for that flip. When you learn to trust your body and the mountain, you'll end up relaxing and letting go, therefore thinking less.
You're not learning if you aren't falling.
On my first day on the slopes, I fell a lot, which is very common. You're getting a feel for your board, being strapped in, and riding. Instead of getting frustrated, have fun with it! Every time you fall, you'll learn what you did wrong, then you try something new. You just have to keep getting back up and try again. Success and progress come to those who don't give up. The determination to learn something also requires you to do it consistently. Practice enhances your abilities over time.
Confidence is everything.
After you get comfortable on the board you start gaining the reassurance that you're getting better. You will begin to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Surrounding yourself with others who believe in you and encourage you to do more challenging runs will help tremendously with your progress. Once you try something and are successful at it, you gain the confidence to do it again. Repetition will only make you better, just like anything else you are learning to do. The feeling you get when you do something you didn't know you could do is exhilarating.
What matters most is the here and now.
I'm always stuck inside my head but riding down the mountain trains me to live more in the moment. The crisp winter air, beautiful views, good company, and the rush of being alive are enough to distract me from anything else.
Snowboarding has a lot to offer.
I've been able to take these snowboarding lessons and apply them to my life off the mountain. Not only did I find a new passion, but I found something that makes me feel like I'm on top of the world... oh wait, because I basically am! In general, I can relax more and think less when needed. Looking back on how much I have progressed in such a short amount of time reminds me that I can do anything I set my heart out to do. I know that growth comes from failing, having confidence in myself, and committing regardless of how many times I fall.
I didn't know something could bring me this much happiness and excitement. Whether it's skiing or snowboarding, I highly suggest going at least once in your life. You'll learn more than you thought, and you'll have breathtaking views on your adventure.
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