The Experience
Up, up, up, and away . . . followed by a swift down, down, down. That pretty much sums up my experience for this week. Are you ready to give it a try? Okay, I know you can’t decide when you don’t really know what I am talking about. So here it is. My experience this week was to take a ride on the Alpine Slides in my local mountains.
It’s been a very long time since I’ve been on the Alpine Slides, probably a good eighteen years or more. Today, it was time to embrace this activity once again, I figure it will keep me young.
As my family and I arrived at the slides, I stood looking up the mountainside. A smile came over my face as I remembered how much fun I had the last time I was there.
We bought our tickets and headed to the ski lift which would take us up the mountain. Oddly enough, this part felt just a wee bit scary. Yep, I said it. Scary. It’s okay if you call me chicken, because I felt that way. I faced my fear though and found myself sitting on the ski lift seat with my feet dangling high in the air. It was a bit breezy so the chair had a sway to it as it traveled up the mountainside. I was completely fine as long as I sat still on the bench.
Once we arrived to the top I hopped off and headed over to select a sled. As I walked over to the top of the slide, I stopped to look at the amazing views. I could see the lake and the surrounding forest. The air was a bit chilly and the breeze which hit my face sent a chill down my spine.
I was now sitting on my sled at the top of the track receiving directions from the young man in charge. I listened carefully as I wanted to remember how the brakes worked, rather important don’t you think! Then off I went.
Wheeeeeee! It was thrilling to whiz down the side of the mountain. I went fast. Really I did. I only used the brake around some of the bends, as I didn’t want to tumble off the track. It was a great time. I felt eighteen years younger!
The Thoughts
My first thought about my Alpine Slide experience is how enjoyable I found it to be. I’m not sure why as we get older we stop doing some of the things we did when we were younger, or maybe it’s just that life gets busier. Have you ever noticed that about in your life?
I was a gymnast in my younger years. On occasion I’ve thought about how fun it would be to still be able to do cartwheels and back flips. But you see I stopped doing those things, time passed, and now I raise my eyebrow at even the thought of whether or not it would be wise to partake in doing a cartwheel. I don’t think we stop doing things because we grow old, rather I think we grow old because we stop doing things, especially the playful things in life.
So if you are reading my blog and you are younger, learn from my hindsight. Pick something you love to do, that you hope twenty years from now to still be doing and do it regularly. Do I think all is a loss for me? Nope. I may not be doing back flips when I’m eighty-five, but I could be going down the Alpine Slides when I’m that old. I just have to keep doing it. Does this make sense?
The Question
What will it be for you? Maybe Alpine Slides if you have some near your home. Or maybe water slides? A slide at a park? A slip and slide in your back yard? A slide into first base if you like baseball or softball.
It may not be a slide at all. Whatever it is that makes you feel younger than you are, that you enjoyed once before, go and do it. Do it this week and let a smile come over your face as you remember those good time of the past and experience them once again. I’d love to hear about your experience!
Walk Lightly Smile Often 