falling well

Listening to Daughtry as I write, this first week of the new year has made a poignant impact on my resolve. Santa brought skis for Christmas. The year started with a ski day at Copper Mountain January 1. 16º and intermittent sun made it difficult to move, difficult to enjoy skiing without stopping to blow in my hands. To boot (no pun intended), my boots were too large, which left me little to know ability to navigate. I fell more times in one day than in the 20 years I've skied. Here's the fun part.

There was a juncture rendering two choices: return my skis and take up reading in the lodge or keep the skis and try again in a few weeks, maybe with better boots. On a warmer day.

Whatever it is you tried last year that didn't work, it's not over yet. Yes, you will fall. Yes, it will hurt. Yes, mean people will laugh and tell you to give it up. We can't get rid of the mean people, but we can change the way we respond to them.

This is the year to learn to laugh at failure. Fall with grace, if not just a sense of humor. Get up and attack your mountain again.