More Ready Today!

One beautiful winter day when I was 18 and learning to downhill ski, my family went skiing with our neighbors, the McDonald’s. 

On one run, Mr. McDonald talked me through a challenging stretch of three or four moguls.  I was having fun and learning lots.  Then I turned a corner on the trail and stopped dead in my tracks, staring at the path ahead.

“What’s wrong?” Mr. McDonald asked.

Staring unblinking at the path in front of me, knowing there were no other options, I squeaked out, “I can’t do those moguls.”  I  was scared.

“Sure you can.  You did great on those moguls behind us.” 

How could he possibly think that I could get through that run, with moguls from here to the lodge? 

“No way.  That hill is solid moguls.  There are so many moguls.  And they’re so close together.” 

“Oh, I understand,” he said patiently.  Good, I thought.  He understands and will help me find another way down the mountain. Then he continued, “There ARE a lot of moguls, and you can do it.”

NO!  He doesn’t understand!  There is no way that I could ski down that mogul-filled path and survive.  I was filled with panic.  Out loud I just said, “No way.”

“Don’t look at the long path of moguls ahead of you, just look about 10 feet down the trail.  All you need to do is ski that next mogul,” pointing to a skimpy little one right in front of us.  “Once you’re past it, then ski the next mogul.  Then the next.  Then the next.  Just ski one mogul at a time, Jane.”

I did it.  I conquered that mountain one mogul at a time.  His wise advice got me through that day and many more in the years since.  Whenever I’ve felt overwhelmed by the magnitude of a challenge in front of me, I’ve heard Mr. McDonald’s reassuring voice say, “Just ski one mogul at a time, Jane.”

While getting your family better prepared for emergencies, you might feel overwhelmed, not know where to start, not think you’ll ever be able to accomplish it.  My best advice to you is from Mr. McDonald.  Keep the big picture in mind, but focus on the task at hand, one or two activities.  Then take on one or two more.  With each step you take, you will be better prepared.  Ski one mogul.  Then ski the next.  Then the next.  Ski one mogul at a time.

The same advice holds true during a crisis.  There likely will be a mogul-filled mountain of work to do.  It can feel overwhelming.  Take a deep breath and take it on one step at a time.  Keep the end point in mind, your family’s safety, security, and comfort.  Pick one of the most important tasks that needs to be done.  And focus on that one task.  Then focus on the next.  Then the next.  Ski one mogul.  Then ski the next.  Then the next.  Ski one mogul at a time.

Thanks Mr. McDonald!

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 8th, 2012 at 9:51 am and is filed under Gratitude, Quotes & Inspiration. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.