The following is mostly my own advice to me. People who ski, or surf, or travel, or work with me have probably heard me refer to “getting on the program” which isn’t something I’ve ever really defined. I’ll poke at it a bit here, but ultimately it’s a feeling. You know when things are firing, when you’re resilient, stoked, and focused. You feel the flow. Here are some of the ways I try to capture it.
Commitment
Learn to wake up to a bad snow report, crap weather, or bitter cold and let yourself be excited by it. That is the day you’re going to have; it will be an adventure, and you’ll walk away from it with a story.
Be the person who folks know they can call for a last minute scramble to chase a storm. This doesn’t mean you always have to go, but be ready to sometimes. Save some extra PTO, have a babysitter or grandparent on speed dial, be willing to help extra with house chores on either side.
Create go energy. Don’t wait for others to invite you, be the invite. Host the dinner. Drive the car. Be there five minutes early.
Collaboration
You aren’t doing this on your own. Give back to those who make it possible. Create space. When your boss doesn’t look twice at you taking a few mornings off or some long lunches, make sure they don’t regret it.
Communicate your intent clearly and with as much warning as you can. Make your passions exciting, not burdensome for your partner. Figure out theirs and backstop them. Be willing to skip a powder day for them sometimes—they’ve done the same for you. Find ways to help them enjoy hunting winter but don’t give them a hard time if they don’t care about it like you do. They care about you.
Care
Make some extra food the night before you go. Be the one who pulls out warm breakfast burritos and coffee for everyone else when you get on the road. Sand down the sharp corners of the experience for everyone; little enjoyments during a sufferfest are what people will remember and want to come back for.
Look through the approach route and map out the drive. Know where you can stop for a bathroom break or a snack or a good view. Make the journey as awesome as the descent. Push people’s limits but don’t surprise them with it—get people to surprise themselves.
Pursuit
Chase things worth getting better at because they let you go to moving places. Hone craft, taste, enjoyment, perspective before getting caught up in a gear arms race. Never let yourself believe something amazing isn’t nearby. You may have to hunt harder for it—that alone makes it worth finding.
If you’re going to show up and participate, do it with commitment. Let go of the seduction of comfort, get in spaces where you feel a little scared. Or even better, a little embarrassed because you know the least. Get used to the feeling of being the worst, learn to thrive in it. No one cares except you, and by participating fully you’re becoming better. If someone offers you the chance to try something awesome, take it.
Rest
A body always in motion is an anxious, exhausted body. Calm your mind, calm you muscles. Enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to crack a beer and trade stories with friends. Talk to your daughter about music and philosophy; help her understand why the mountains matter to you and why New York is a place you’ll always miss and return to.
Play the video games you build, don’t let people make you feel guilty for rest, give yourself calm places to just think. This is true at work and true in the big hills—thoughtless movement is dangerous and wasteful. Spend time thinking about direction and craft and terrain. Spend time just thinking.
Thanks
You are lucky. You have been gifted a working body, time, peers, partners, support and more than you’ll probably ever realize. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you got to this place or that you’ll get to the next one without those things. No man is an island.