Kurt's Corner 2010

Fear and the Mountian

Fear and the Mountain
By Kurt Johnsen

In an attempt to teach this old dog a new trick, I took up snowboarding for the first time during a trip to New Mexico last month. Coming off surfing in Kauai I thought it would be an easy transition and it just looks so fun and cool, I had to try it..

During the obligatory lesson on the bunny slope I was shown the basics I needed to traverse the frozen ground. My instructor, a very patient and light hearted guy named Kirk had us heel sliding (the snowboarding equivalent to snow plowing) in no time. The day’s lesson ended with S turns from the top of the bunny slope and then we were cut loose to test out new found skills.

I would like to say I spent the rest of the afternoon flying down Red River slopes showing off my newly found snowboarding prowess. I can’t say that when much of the time I was either reluctantly heel sliding my down getting in the way of skiers and other snowboarders alike or discovering new forms of flight that ended with a wonderful array of face plants and butt busters as I tried in vain to conquer the mountain.

That night I reviewed the blunders of the day. Why was it so hard when 5 year olds could surf down the mountain with ease?

The next day we ventured to Angel Fire and as I ascended into the heavens on the ski lift it came to me. I wasn’t going to beat the mountain or gravity for that matter. The day before I was afraid of both and fought them every step of the way. Today, I announced in my head, they were to be my friends. Today I will work with them.

That change of perspective did just that. I went through the fear and worked with the challenges instead of resisting them and in turn they brought me a new skill and a great time. Sure I had a tumble or two however I spent most of the day surfing the earth!

So don’t battle forces you cannot defeat. Work with the fear because even fear is here to serve you, to help you, to prepare you to continue to explore this amazing planet and this amazing you!