Ski Lift Conversations Remind You to Ask Yourself...
Life is Far Too Short: What Are We Waiting For?
“I promised myself that I'd never let my life turn out like my dad’s did."
That’s how my ski instructor, Glen, began answering the question many ski students ask their teachers: “What made you decide to become a ski instructor and live here in this mountain resort?"
Glen went on to explain,
"My dad was a very hard-working blue-collar guy. He slaved away as a longshoreman, took care of his family, made sure his kids had all their needs met, and always looked forward to his retirement when he could finally rest and enjoy his life. He made it for just one year. Oh, he hung on longer, but he really only had one year of decent health. That's when I decided that I'd never let my years pass by without living where I want and doing what I love. I teach skiing here during the winter, and each summer, I decide what I'll do that year. This time, I'm going to find work in Hawaii while there’s no snow here on Whistler Mountain.”
Victoria, another of Glen’s students, sat to his left on the chair lift, swinging her fat powder skis. She chipped in:
"I volunteer at a hospice and often think about the one very simple yet profound ‘gotcha’ question a terminal cancer patient once asked me: ‘So, what will be your next adventure?’ Patients who realize that they're about to die quite soon really just want to listen and talk. During my hospice visit that day, I’d told this gentleman about the most exhilarating experience of my life. I once took a five-day dogsledding tour in the far north of Norway and it was the most fantastic experience I could imagine. I had always thought of it as a ‘one off’ adventure, but that dying man’s ‘what’s next’ question has always nagged at me.”
After a few more chair lift rides (and several graceless mogul runs), I learned that Victoria is an Environmental Studies professor from London who teaches her students about the importance of ecotourism. Yet, she’s never done any of it herself. So, with each new chair lift ride, I challenged her: “So, Victoria, what's your answer to that dying man's question? What will be your next adventure?”
By the end of the day, we’d figured out that she would head to Costa Rica and take an adrenalin-pumping zip line tour through the rain forest canopy on her next vacation. She’d love the thrill, and would also be able to teach her students about ecotourism based on her own experiences.
As I wrote these words you’re now reading about my conversations with Glen and Victoria, I Googled for the phrase, “Life is far too short” and serendipitied upon a recent blog post in “DWB NEWS,” an internet community with items of interest to dog lovers around the world. (DWB = “Dogs With Blogs.”) The specific item including that phrase referred to the sudden death of “Ozzy and Romeo’s dad, David.” A series of very touching dog blog entries made me cry as I learned that the Airedale and Wire Fox Terrier were helping their “mom” mourn the tragic death of her husband…at age 29!
At what age will your time be up? How would you answer that terminal hospice patient’s question? What would you identify as the most exhilarating adventure of your life…so far? What adventure will you have next?
We all say it and know it: “Life is far too short.”
So, what are we waiting for?
©2007 George R. Walther
“I promised myself that I'd never let my life turn out like my dad’s did."
That’s how my ski instructor, Glen, began answering the question many ski students ask their teachers: “What made you decide to become a ski instructor and live here in this mountain resort?"
Glen went on to explain,
"My dad was a very hard-working blue-collar guy. He slaved away as a longshoreman, took care of his family, made sure his kids had all their needs met, and always looked forward to his retirement when he could finally rest and enjoy his life. He made it for just one year. Oh, he hung on longer, but he really only had one year of decent health. That's when I decided that I'd never let my years pass by without living where I want and doing what I love. I teach skiing here during the winter, and each summer, I decide what I'll do that year. This time, I'm going to find work in Hawaii while there’s no snow here on Whistler Mountain.”
Victoria, another of Glen’s students, sat to his left on the chair lift, swinging her fat powder skis. She chipped in:
"I volunteer at a hospice and often think about the one very simple yet profound ‘gotcha’ question a terminal cancer patient once asked me: ‘So, what will be your next adventure?’ Patients who realize that they're about to die quite soon really just want to listen and talk. During my hospice visit that day, I’d told this gentleman about the most exhilarating experience of my life. I once took a five-day dogsledding tour in the far north of Norway and it was the most fantastic experience I could imagine. I had always thought of it as a ‘one off’ adventure, but that dying man’s ‘what’s next’ question has always nagged at me.”
After a few more chair lift rides (and several graceless mogul runs), I learned that Victoria is an Environmental Studies professor from London who teaches her students about the importance of ecotourism. Yet, she’s never done any of it herself. So, with each new chair lift ride, I challenged her: “So, Victoria, what's your answer to that dying man's question? What will be your next adventure?”
By the end of the day, we’d figured out that she would head to Costa Rica and take an adrenalin-pumping zip line tour through the rain forest canopy on her next vacation. She’d love the thrill, and would also be able to teach her students about ecotourism based on her own experiences.
As I wrote these words you’re now reading about my conversations with Glen and Victoria, I Googled for the phrase, “Life is far too short” and serendipitied upon a recent blog post in “DWB NEWS,” an internet community with items of interest to dog lovers around the world. (DWB = “Dogs With Blogs.”) The specific item including that phrase referred to the sudden death of “Ozzy and Romeo’s dad, David.” A series of very touching dog blog entries made me cry as I learned that the Airedale and Wire Fox Terrier were helping their “mom” mourn the tragic death of her husband…at age 29!
At what age will your time be up? How would you answer that terminal hospice patient’s question? What would you identify as the most exhilarating adventure of your life…so far? What adventure will you have next?
We all say it and know it: “Life is far too short.”
So, what are we waiting for?
©2007 George R. Walther
posted by George Walther | 10:13 AM
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