Hi friends
There was a day on the mountain I’ll never forget.
We were heading down a black run — one of my favorites. The kind that makes your heart race before you even drop in.
At first, I took it slow. The top was steep, and I wanted to feel every carve, every edge. But as I reached the middle section — where the slope softens and freedom takes over — I let go. I picked up speed. The kind of speed that makes you feel alive and free
Then I hit a bump, lost control, and went down hard.
I flipped sideways, my board caught awkwardly in the snow, half in the air. My legs twisted beneath me. For a moment, I couldn’t move.
As I lay there face first in the snow, I called out for help.
And in that stillness — before anyone reached me — a thought hit just as hard as the fall:
Maybe I shouldn’t be doing this anymore.
Then another truth rose quietly behind it.
The mountain humbles me.
It always has.
No matter how confident I feel, no matter how much I think I’ve mastered — it reminds me that humility isn’t weakness. It’s awareness. It’s knowing that even when you’ve trained, practiced, and prepared, life can still bring you back to the ground to remind you to respect the climb, the challenge, and yourself.
Reflection
The mountain doesn’t care how skilled you are — it just asks for respect.
And when you fall, it asks for honesty.
Humility isn’t about being small; it’s about being real.
It’s the quiet voice that says, “I’m still learning.”
It’s the strength that allows us to ask for help, admit fear, and see beauty in imperfection.
Quote
“Pride makes us artificial, and humility makes us real.” — Thomas Merton
Takeaways
- Humility keeps you grounded. No matter how much experience you have, there’s always more to learn.
- Admitting when you need help is strength. Asking doesn’t make you weak — it makes you human.
- Falling teaches perspective. When you’ve been down, you understand others who are there too.
Closing Line
We use to always say snowboarding will change your life if you let it and I still believe that.
— Todd Richards, We Ride
With gratitude,
Kelsey
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