The Zen of Skiing.

I've been hearing from a lot of people lately how skiing is a metaphor for life. And the more I think about it, the more I think it's true.

Here are some thoughts on the subject expressed by some of the women over at TheSkiDiva.com:

You can't have fun getting down the mountain if you're down on yourself.

Skiing requires that you give up control of the things that seem obvious (leaning into the hill=safe) and surrender yourself to falling. The joy that comes with that experience is astonishing.

Forget about being in control: Be in balance and you will be able to control your response to the conditions around you.

Stop once in awhile, breathe, and enjoy the view around you.

All physical discomfort is relative: There was always a colder day, a sorer muscle, a meaner boss, a more difficult co-worker, etc.

It's important to be flexible, the best laid plans can be disrupted by unexpected events (what do you mean that chairlift is not running today?).

Falling down once in a while is part of life. So what. Get up, dust yourself off, and move on.

For every down there is an up. And vice versa.

Control takes a certain measure of self-awareness, practice, and discipline. Don't just launch yourself into something without knowing what you're doing. Have the tools at hand to handle the situation, and you'll be fine.

Be sure to visit TheSkiDiva.com, an internet forum especially for women skiers, where women skiers can connect with one another to talk about everything and anything ski-related.