Typically the idea of what to blog about comes pretty quickly. There is always something to write about, right?  So today’s topic is?  Well it’s not coming so easily today.  Therefore let’s go backwards and start with this week’s picture, and see what ideas flow from there. Friday’s EndorphinGirl™ Snap is titled the “January StReTcH” and is courtesy of EndorphinSon.  Let's go with the sTrEtCh idea further for a moment.  The weather is brisk, New York City has now had its coldest days of the winter so far, so for many reasons sTrEtChInG is important!  If you feel so inclined stand up and StReTcH right now. Try a downward-facing dog or sun salutation – you will get a ‘brief-sense-of-endorphin’ and maybe even warm up a bit. sTrEtChInG is so good for increased flexibility and to make muscles strong – and sometimes a little reminder is good, EndorphinGirl™ just reminded herself!.



Thanks to the above paragraph the blog topic has just surfaced - winter sports, which are essential in an Endorphin Family.  First and foremost skiing is the winter sport of EndorphinGirl™’s youth, while snowboarding seems to be its
current day equivalent. EndorphinKids have been on skis since they were 2 years old and jumping moguls and doing black
diamond runs since age five. Although they started on skis, today they generally only snowboard and can still fly down a
mountain at lightning speed.

This is all counter to their EndorphinGirl™ mom! While  EndorphinGirl™ has been skiing since she was 9 years old, she has only just recently ‘almost mastered’ a black diamond! But really it has been a slow and steady progress.

EndorpinGirl™’s first ski trip was to Vernon Valley/Great Gorge in New Jersey several decades ago. At 9 years old EndorphinGirl™ skied with her sister, brother and
cousins. Her mom, aunt and younger brother were in ‘the ski lodge’ just relaxing!  Her cousins had skied before but she and her siblings had not.  EndorphinGirl™ and her sister proceeded to follow her cousins and brother to the ski lift. 
(Caveat: EndorphinGirl™ sister may remember things in a slightly different version!) Unknowingly, it was the lift to a black diamond. At the last second, EndorphinGirl™’s sister decided not to ski, so EndorphinGirl™ went up the mountain solo.  It was a beautiful, long and chilly ride up the mountain, but probably not as beautiful, long and chilly as it was down the mountain!  

She was also not aware that she was supposed to put the lift handlebar down so she would not fall off the lift. When she got to the top, the ski lift operator was ‘required’ to stop the lift to help her off – she had no idea how to get off the lift otherwise.  While the details may be a bit blurry it did take her over 2 hours to ‘ski’ down the mountain. Although EndorphinGirl™ still believes it took closer to a day!  During the ‘ski’ down the mountain her cousins (four boys ranging age 9 to 13) and brother (age 13) passed her on the mountain many times. While they were gracious enough to stop on some runs to try and help her, she was determined to get down the ‘hill’.  And so she did but mostly by sitting on her skis!  Thus the sit-ski approach was mastered!

Fast forward several decades!  EndorphinGirl™ still skis, in fact really enjoys it, though it has been tortoise-like progress, yet still progress!  On her annual ski trip with Jack Steel, who is a masterful skier, there is typically a point on every mountain that Jack will kindly stop, sweetly look back, smile and wait for her to catch up.  She has however completely given up the sit-ski approach and can firmly and securely stand on both skis, rather ski on both skis!  Come to think of it, it has been major progress over the years!

Until next week, keep on endorphing!

EndorphinGirl™ 

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