A Stroll Essay, Research Paper
8:02 a.m. Saturday. It’s still dark, as usual, on these cold, winterdays. Everybody else is still sleeping and enjoying the comfprting heat oftheir beds. I crack open the locked window by my bed, an act some deemeddownright idiotic. I strip off my pj’s, throw on my robe, and head for theshower.
Drying off, I think about where I am about to go. I dress piece bylayered piece. I can’t wait to hit the slopes! I round up my tools: body,boards, boots, bindings. Everything is in working order and ready for take-off. As I open the front door, I am shocked by the cold and fight my waythrough the wind to my car. I turn the key and put the heater on full blast.I am almost there.
I step out of my car and survey the parking lot. Not too many cars.That’s the way I like it. I take a deep breath and savor the frsh air.Already, I can feel the pressure of deadlines lifted off my chest. I strap myskis on, and prepare not just to tackle a run but other situations in my lifeas well. I skate over to the first pitch of the double diamond slope, and mapout where I will take the first couple turns. It is almost like I amassessing my goals in life: getting accepted into Syracuse, owning a house inColorado, raising a healthy family.
I appreciate the sound of carving the first turn as if it was my verylast. The crunching of the snow under my f
I heard it said often, “It’s easier said than done.” I never believed ituntil now. I only skid slightly over a patch of ice, but it is enough tostart my heart thumping. I am suddenly aware that to finish this run or toreach my goals, I have to be ready for the tricky spots. I know that at anymoment I could fall and be forced to start over. My lifetime goals can beaffected by any number of things – grades slipping, drugs and alcohol – and Ihave to be ready to handle anything.
I clear my mind of all fear and continue through turns, but with morecaution. Once the focus of my goal is on track, I persevere to attain it. Iquickly aquire my rhythm. I become more determined. Now, I take sharper,shorter turns. I glide swiftly toward the chairlift just now appearing in mysights. I know that through hard work I can achieve these realistic goals! Iam almost there!
I thrill at the prospect of conquering this hill. I feel proud of myself.I am gratified to know that I can accomplish a goal endurance. I can achievedespite the many ice patches I encounter. I ride the lift back to my car. Ionly came for one run, the run to help me survive the week. I drive homegrinning ear to ear.