Yesterday, I learned the diagnosis of my arm/wrist that I injured while snowboarding. It is officially broken and I’m now wearing the first cast in my life.
While wearing it around the office, I’m finding two things interesting; people’s curiosity about it and their surprise when I tell them I broke it snowboarding. The later truly amazes me. I’m looked at in such a way that says “I should have known better”.
I am now 38 year old and I hurt myself doing something that I’ve wanted to do since I was a teenager. What exactly is surprising about this? The fact that I still chase my dreams and have refused to live with Adultitis (See Adultitis.org for Diagnosis and Treatment), or is it their inability to do the same? Life is for experiencing that which I’ve yet to, without fear? As we do not get a do-over at life.
Adventure sports have always thrilled me. As a teenager I skateboarded, freestyled (BMX) and surfed. In fact, I can still out Ollie a lot of teenage skateboarders. During my life I’ve tried many other “adventure sports”; some of which I’ve been able to perform, some I have not. I do not plan on stopping trying, until I’m physically, not mentally, not able to do so.
I have always been a healthy and capable person. I rarely turn down an activity which physically challenges me. Trying and succeeding, or trying and failing are both wins in my book. I cannot rollerblade and I cannot waterski. I know this because I’ve tried.
Over the years I’ve also tried knee-boarding, skateboarding, surfing, wakeboarding, wake-skating, whitewater rafting, deep skin diving; all of which I’m pretty damn good at. I know this because I’ve tried.
At 38, I have many more challenges ahead; many more failures and successes.
Planned Adventures
- Hang-gliding
- Scuba Diving
- Whitewater Kayaking
- Sky Diving
- Long Distance Hiking (AT or Colorado Trail)
- Rappelling
- Learning to Sail and taking a long voyage
- Whitewater Rafting the Grand Canyon
In my 38 years alive, some of my fondest memories are doing things that others would think insane. I would not trade them for anything. If someone asked if knowing that I would break my arm, would I still go snowboarding: hell yes! Seeing my kids do it and experiencing it with them is well worth it.
My shortlist of (real) Injuries
- Shark/Barracuda Bite on my back – Surfing, age 17
- Torn Right MCL – Wakeboarding, age 34
- Broken Right Radial Head – Skateboarding, age 36
- Broken Arm – Snowboarding, age 38
What have you always wanted to try but haven’t? Why not?
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
– Robert Frost
Photo: Eliya via Flickr