Maybe it’s better to not worry about helping others, if they do not ask for it.
Then again, some of my life’s most powerful insights came unsolicited.
The reward for not being helpful is people think you’re a good person without having to spend your efforts convincing them. Additionally, you know that not doing anything is safer than doing something.
Brian, Chalet manager, told me this morning after breakfast, “You don’t need to worry about falling through the snow.”
Fast forward to me turning around at 8600’…
Feeling overwhelmed and anxious about how to wayfind a safe descent.
There is no choice but to start. No one is coming to the rescue.
Five minutes into my descent from 8600’, i’m near the snowfield’s top edge and then this happens…
A man with trekking poles appears, walking up the long snow field.
i shout, “Are you wearing spikes?”
“No.”
As he got closer i asked his advice if i fell and slid down the snowfield. He answered and emphasized going heel first with a wide walking stance. i knew heel first but not the wide stance.
These two serendipitous moments — with Chalet Brian and snowfield man — convinced me to descend entirely on the snow.
Did heel-first the first half, falling twice with short slides — i was able to stop quickly both falls.
Then i challenged myself to intentionally butt-slide, overcoming the fear of sliding out-of control and crashing into rocks at the bottom.
Then an unexpected surprise…
i came to an unwanted stop.
Thanks for nothing gravity. 😂
With a new confidence i attempted “skiing” the rest of the way.
It worked.
The difference between a rock scramble descent and the snow field descent changed the game.
Hiked down from Comeau Pass feeling exhilarated. So awesome.
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This website is about our HOME. This is the fifth of five daily, differently-themed blog posts about: (1) mind, (2) body, (3) spirit, (4) work, (5) home. To return to Mid Life Celebration, the site about MIND, click here.
