Just got back in town after Black Diamond Ski Weekend 2010.  BDSW is a weekend getaway organized by my sister and me combining our love of fun, friends, music, and snow play!  I started skiing 10 years ago and can honestly say I look forward to winter just so that I can get back out there and hit the slopes.  Trust that as I take my financial situation to the next level I will “Winter” in a warm weather destination AND I plan to take at least 2 – 3 ski trips each year to get in my snow fix.

What I like about skiing is the exhilaration, of it!  The wind whipping by, the serenity of riding the ski lift and gazing upon the beauty of nature.  The adrenaline rush of taking on a new level of skiing as I seek to master this sport!  It’s all fantastic and scary at the same time.

This year I decided to take on snowboarding.  The last time I tried was in 2004 and I got the wind knocked out of me.  At the time I vowed to conquer the board and even went out an bought one to prove it.  For the past 6 years that snowboard has sat in its bag still in the plastic wrap with no bindings!  This year I vowed to break through fear and  challenge myself to go the next level.  So I took the board to the pro shop and got it hooked up!

Then I actually had to go over the bunny hill and try to figure out how to get down the mountain with both feet strapped to a skinny board!  It was a humbling experience to say the least.  Here I am an experienced skier, ready to take on Black Diamonds (finally) and I can’t even make it down the bunny slopes without falling  a million times!  The thing is like anything in life you have to crawl before you can walk.  I got great tips and advice from other beginners and even though I spent all Saturday falling down, but by 5:30p I made it down the bunny slopes successfully before I went in for dinner!

I woke up sore as hell on Sunday ready to call it quits and strap on my ski blades so I could be a superstar and “look good,”  but I didn’t.  I am so proud of myself for honoring my word and sticking with the board another day.  I even took myself up on the chair lift where I proceeded to bust my a$$ over and over again each time I dismounted and then fell down the mountain!  Let’s not mention how scared I was to even get going (check out the video)!

However being A Diva is all about honoring your word and being willing to move past the fear and conquer the learning curve so that you can expand, grow, and become event more phenomenal!  So I stuck with it and fall after fall I started to get more comfortable with board.    By midday, I was able to stay up and even when I did fall, get up quickly and keep it moving!  So I finally made it down the mountain and feel that I understand the basics of snowboarding.  I plan to take a few day trips the rest of the season to add to my skillset and by next year, I will be FABULOUS!

I also honored my pact with The Steak and Rapture to knock out the Black Diamonds on our ski blades!  Yes I wiped out a couple of times, and had to take it REAL slow on a couple of runs, but I did all the ones that were open before heading in to cook some killer Chili for the crew!  I arrived back home sore, bruised, and exhausted but most of I all I know myself to be a woman who takes on life, doesn’t give up, and keeps her word!  I feel like a million bucks.  I give mad props to the inner circle who were so patient and encouraging to me and my buddies Lioness Jade & Peppy Leopard.  They stayed with us on the beginner slopes and cheered us on even though they could have gone off and hit the blues & blacks!  I love having such an awesome support network and am grateful that we were all able to get together for this trip (we hadn’t been together since July!)

As for all the people who flaked out on this trip at the last minute or were just plain wack as we planned, promoted, and prepared, you missed out on an opportunity of a lifetime and know that if  you only stick to what you know, you will never grow, and that means you will never be anywhere but where you are now.  If you are happy with your life exactly as it is, awesome, but most of you know that you want things to change.  You have to be willing to take on the unknown, face your fears, look a little silly while you learn, and trust that its all worth it in the end.  I have been laughing all day at the video footage from the trip and I know that next year and every year after as I get better it will be worth the sore muscles and bruised ego!

Yoga Diva!

I so did not feel like getting up and going to Yoga this morning. Here’s the thing though, you get SOOOO much out of being your word vs. your feelings. It’s 11:00 and I now feel wonderful both because I started my day with integrity AND because my mind is clear and body refreshed from a great class!

As my friend Mr. Mogul said owning your own business does not mean you get to sleep late, it just means you have to be disciplined enough to get up early b/c there is no boss to report to!  It also means I have to be disciplined enough to go to bed earlier (notice I didn’t say early ) so that your body is not struggling to get up.

You have to go to bed early EVEN THOUGH you have a FANTASTIC NEW PROJECT to work on and want to stay up all night to work out the details.  Simply jot down your most excellent ideals and have faith that the universe will have it all ready for you again in the AM.

In other Diva news, last night I went to my first SAMBA class and I LOOOOOVED IT!  I have to admit I was really nervous b/c they are in the middle of a 5-week session and I have never done that style of dance before, but it was cool.   Trust, I messed up, a lot, but this ia s lesson in not taking myself too seriously and being okay with not looking good all the time.  Tonight is cha-cha and I am looking for a great belly dancing class too! I know it seems like a lot, but I have a company that teaches dance, so this is all part of R&D (see how my classes are now a tax deduction!).

Don’t be jealous, just be in action, you to can live your dream life today!  I suggest you start with getting clear on what you are passionate about and then see what happens next.!

Alrighty, I just finished my smoothie and its time to hop into the shower to get fresh and clean.  I have much to do on that EXCITING NEW PROJECT!)