This article is a summary of the period from February 19, 2023, to March 4, 2023.
Scene#
Sometimes I lean into the embrace of the mountains, sometimes I pour into the valleys, in the howling wind, between the front and back mountains, I rise and fall freely.
This scene happened when I was practicing at the Taiwu Ski Resort. Suddenly, I started to understand the rhythm of changing edges proficiently on a certain slope. At that moment, as I watched the mountains in the distance approaching me one after another, I suddenly realized what it means to be "at the top of the mountain." I fell in love with the freedom of skiing in the mountains (which further strengthened my belief in making alpine skiing my advanced skiing goal).
In addition, one thing I want to mention is that this feeling of freedom doesn't require high speed or a surge of adrenaline. It is more about a sense of coordination and control. Honestly, when I first fell in love with skiing, it was all about the thrill of going downhill and the love for speed. But I don't want to only experience the joy of speed; it is too short-lived and can never be satisfied. I want to appreciate a more layered kind of joy. And now, I can feel the joy of rhythm, and I am happy to see my growth in this aspect.
P.S. When I initially decided to write this chapter, I had a strong desire to express myself. But recently, I have been feeling a bit inadequate in my writing, and I feel like I am losing my ability to express or my perception is becoming dull. In any case, I have decided to skip this section for this week and, starting next week, I will not only write but also quote some descriptions that I like.
Life#
Wandering Around#
During these two weeks, I roughly traveled from Chongli (the ski season there has ended) to Shanghai, then to Lijiang, and finally back to Dali. My life now can be described as wandering around, as my friends put it. This was not my original intention, but I quite like this description.
I cannot answer why I keep relocating. Ultimately, it is the soul's desire for freedom. There is no specific purpose, but just like a saying I really like, "Dinosaurs thought they had time too." The increasing uncertainties around me make me believe more in "don't postpone what you want to do today to tomorrow." I keep practicing facing the unknown without being fully prepared.
Since last week, especially after arriving in Yunnan, I feel like spring has truly arrived. Everywhere on the road, I can see flowers that are red like fire, pink like dawn, and white like snow. The trees have also sprouted tender buds. A friend asked me what has changed in Dali compared to my last visit. I blurted out, "It has become more elegant. Last time, the grass in the village was still yellow, not desolate but vast and open, giving a feeling of being enveloped in golden warmth. This time, the trees by the lake have become lush, covering the grass and flowers, giving an overall sense of elegance."
Shanghai, Shanghai#
During this visit to Shanghai, my friend and I chose a restaurant on Wuzhong Road for dinner. Then, in the evening, one of my friends saw my update on a TG Channel and told me that she was also on Wuzhong Road tonight. After some communication, I found out that she happened to be in Shanghai for a business trip and had planned to have dinner with a friend and thought of going to Wuzhong Road.
I found this to be quite magical. We don't usually keep in touch much, and occasionally when we visit each other's cities, we would meet up for a meal. But there was also a time when we decided to go out for a walk one night in Wangjing. I sat on the back of her motorcycle, and we wandered around the streets. It feels like there is a mysterious signal between us, and I am grateful for such friendship, especially the friendship between women.
Constantly Getting Injured#
It has been almost a month (since February 12) since I injured my ribs, and even now, it still hurts when I swim or turn over in bed. It has improved a lot compared to when I first got injured, but the level of pain has not decreased much in the past week.
Old injuries have not healed, and new injuries have been added. After arriving in Dali last week, I borrowed a land paddleboard from a friend to play with, but unexpectedly, I sprained my ankle in the first minute. What awaited me was swelling, pain, and bruising... It seems that complete recovery is still far away.
Fortunately, the pain in my buttocks and knees from falling while skiing before has mostly healed.
The frequent injuries recently have made me reflect - I can't continue like this, not afraid of getting injured. I don't know when I realized that I am not as sensitive to pain as others. The advantage of this is that I have more courage and can engage in various sports without hesitation. However, the downside is that regardless of whether I fear pain or not, the harm to my body from injuries remains the same, or even worse because the lack of sufficient pain to alert me may make my body more prone to injury or more severely injured. When I was younger, a fall or twist might not have mattered much, as my body had a stronger ability to recover. But now, I realize that I am not as resilient to falls as before.
Still in School?#
During my recent travels, I have been asked by people, "Are you still in school?" It seems to be a polite phrase people use when they don't know what else to say. I don't know the exact reason, but I really dislike being asked this way. But now, upon further reflection, one reason might be that it feels hypocritical. We are all Asians, and it shouldn't be that difficult to guess someone's age. On the other hand, perhaps the underlying logic behind this question is "you would be happy if I make you sound younger." But why should we take pride in appearing younger? Especially as a woman, I might be more sensitive to this - is this praise a result of the "young" aesthetic in the "white, young, and thin" culture?
Of course, being young is good, and I often marvel at the vitality of youth. But the essence lies in vitality, not age.
Input and Output#
During the break from skiing two weeks ago, I took the time to read part of the book The Complete Guide to Snowboarding. I hope to finish reading this book before the next ski season. One of the reflections from my recent frequent injuries is that I plan to read more books on sports rehabilitation in the future.