I’ve cross-country skied since around the time that I could walk. Every winter, my parents would pack my sister and I up and take us nearly every weekend to go skiing. It was fantastic.
It’s been several years since I was last out on the trails, so it was with much excitement (and a little apprehension) that I went cross-country skiing earlier this week. I didn’t know if I’d like it as much as I used to, or if I would even remember how to ski. And then we got on the trail.
Everything came back to me as soon as the swish, swish of ski sweeping snow filled the air. I remembered exactly how to do it all, and I sincerely loved every moment of being back out there.
One of the things I liked best about it was the rhetoric between skiers. When you’re going out cross-country skiing – just like when you’re going out hiking – you’re not exactly in a big rush. You aren’t hurrying to get somewhere, you’re not anxiously worried that you’ll be late, you aren’t fretting about what other people are thinking. You’re just outside, enjoying nature, getting a little exercise. Because everyone else is of the same mindset, everyone is incredibly friendly.
It’s rare that skiers won’t say something to each other when passing, or to at least smile in acknowledgment. “Beautiful day!”, “Isn’t it lovely out?” and “Thanks for letting me pass!” are some of the most common phrases heard on the ski trail. I don’t believe I’ve ever heard someone say anything nasty or even remotely negative when skiing. It’s as though, as soon as you start skiing, all negativity flies out the window.
Much of this is likely because of the shared interest that brings you together with the other skiers. You don’t know anything about them except that they are interested in either nature or health, or both, and somehow that’s enough to feel a solid connection. We build these kinds of connections all the time. When we find out that someone has an interest similar to our own, there’s an instant bond, which usually leads to wanting to get to know the person better or at least to act in a friendly manner towards them.
It is through these connections, these small shared interests, that communities are built.