SoulSkier

Society likes to measure success through financial gain. The more I observe, the more I ask, why? I see a majority of people working 10+ hours a day, 6 days a week. Gone are the days of working a 40 hour a week, 9-5 job. We’ve all become slaves to our nice cars, fancy homes and other things we use as signs of our “success”. The auto industry changes body styles on their vehicles every few years to take advantage of this mentality. I mean, you have to keep up with the Jones’ to be successful, right?

So, we end up spending most of our lives working in hopes that one day, in the “golden years” we can enjoy it…..all that work for the end result, hopefully, of being happy.

Do the ends justify the means? What if you can be happy without buying into all of the bullshit? Shouldn’t happiness be the ultimate definition of success?

Isn’t it funny how so many in life don’t understand those who give up the capitalistic pursuit in search of powder? They don’t understand that we’ve found happiness. We don’t need to be millionaires to be content. In fact, we’re much more fortunate than the rich. We’ve found real happiness. Something very fulfilling. Skiing 3 feet of fresh powder with your friends all day, and having a few beers afterward is infinitely more rewarding than upgrading your TV or buying the latest model vehicle.

Even after skiing for 25+ years, I still feel like a 5 year old on Christmas morning waiting in the liftline on a powder day for first chair. It’s more than a sport to me, it is who I am. Skiing is in my soul, it completes me.
So, these last days of Summer and early Fall are bittersweet. I know ski season is right around the corner, but at the same time, it’s been a while since I last made turns, and I feel like part of me is missing. I’m really looking forward to skiing artificial snow on opening day at Loveland in a few more weeks.

There, I will make turns with the most successful people in the world. I can’t wait.