Deep Understanding: A Lesson from the Slopes

Good day, dear reader. Today, I want to share a story with you, a tale from my younger years that taught me a valuable lesson about Deep Understanding. This story, set against the backdrop of a snowy mountain, involves a pair of skis, a steep slope, and a young man’s determination.

The Adventure Begins

It was the winter of ’72, and I found myself on a skiing trip in the majestic Rocky Mountains. I was a novice skier, my experience limited to a few lessons on the gentle slopes of the local ski hill. But there I was, standing at the top of a mountain, staring down a slope that seemed to drop off into oblivity.

The Challenge

My friends, seasoned skiers, were already making their way down, their movements fluid and confident. I, on the other hand, was frozen in place, my heart pounding, my mind filled with doubt.

But then, I remembered a piece of advice my grandfather once gave me. He said, “Understanding is not just about knowing the path, it’s about walking it“.

The Lesson

So, I took a deep breath, pushed off, and started my descent. I fell, I stumbled, but I got up and kept going. I didn’t just try to remember the techniques I’d been taught, I tried to understand them, to feel them. I focused on the way my body moved, the way the skis responded, the way the snow felt underfoot.

And as I skied, I began to understand. I understood the rhythm of the turns, the balance between control and surrender, the exhilaration of speed tempered by the fear of falling. I understood that skiing wasn’t just about getting from the top of the mountain to the bottom, it was about the journey, the experience, the learning.