There’s a saying in Montana: “Ride or die.”
It might not mean much if you’re reading this in Maine—but out West, it’s a way of life.
Will I be sending Corbett’s or Big Couloir this season… probably not. My appetite for risk has mellowed with age but… I still love being in the culture.
Risk Culture
Quick side note:
This winter, I got taken down on the infamous “red sled”. Caught an edge on North Bowl Road. It’s nothing like Tote Road Sugarloafers. I went over a 15 foot edge. Blunt head impact. Yes – I was wearing a helmet—but yeah, I was concussed. And you know what?
I loved every minute of it.
Why? I had a new experience, made some friends and learned to pay more attention when skiing near the edge.
In the words of @ms.snowplake – I was “LIVING!“
If You’re Not Pushing Yourself, You’re Just Aging
One of my core life principles: If you’re not pushing yourself in some way, you’re not really living. You’re just letting the slow creep of age win.
I had a conversation recently with a colleague about caring for aging parents. Classic sandwich generation stuff.
He asked: “Is it better to go because your body gives out—or your mind?”
I know my answer: Just before the body gives out. Lights out. Doing what I love.
Risk Isn’t Just Physical
There’s a lot more I could say about risk culture: riding the edge, failing forward & entrepreneurship…
But for me, it’s not about playing the stock market, investing in real estate, or dabbling in crypto.
It’s about living on the bleeding edge—whatever that is for you.
It doesn’t have to be physical. It can be creative risk, learning a new skill, launching a new venture or just trying something where failure is the most likely outcome.
…because that’s the best way to grow.
You learn by failing forward.
