A (7:20)
So I contemplated about it for a while and I sort of talked to the group and, you know, part of the group was like, no, like, stay with us. We're going to hang out. We're going to watch TV and, like, chill and do face masks and be comfortable or whatever. And then the small part of the group that was going to, you know, take a skiing lesson was like, come on. Like, we're going to take a skiing lesson. Like, you'll be safe with us. We're going to be on the bunny hill. It's going to be easy, it's going to be safe. It's going to be fun. And then the group who is experienced is like, it's going to be amazing. You're going to learn, and then you're going to be able to come with us. And I'm like. And I could not decide, but I eventually decided, fuck it, I'm going to go. I'm gonna do it. Yeah, I'm gonna do it. And so the next day was the day of the skiing lesson. Okay. And, you know, we go to a ski shop, rent all of the equipment, and I'm like, I'm starting to get nervous. Okay. Cause I'm like, I'm picking up the skis, I'm trying on the boots, and I'm like, this stuff is really heavy, and it's really hard to, like, move around in this stuff. I'm a little nervous about, like, my mobility. Like, am I going to be able to, like, control my body with this stuff? And so my anxiety is starting to build. But, you know, I comfort myself with the idea, like, hey, I'm not the only one who has no idea what's going on. And we're going to take a lesson, so we're going to learn. And, you know, I see a bunch of kids around. There's kids in the ski shop. I saw kids walking around in the morning just around town. I'm like, there's kids doing this. Like, Emma, you fucking got this. Like, it's all good. So we pack everything into the car, we go to the ski hill, and we meet up with our instructor. And this instructor is just so sweet. Okay, he's just, like, a sweet dude, right? He's, like, probably 50. Sweet guy, right? Like, just not intimidating at all. Chill guy. I'm like, this is great. You know, the worst thing is when you have some sort of instructor and you're really new at something and the instructor is, like, hot. Like, I'm not saying like, hot. Like, oh, I'm interested. That's actually kind of incredible when, like, an instructor is hot and you're single and you like. But no, I just mean, like, hot in general, right? Not even necessarily somebody that I'm attracted to, but just somebody who's hot and cool. That is not ideal for learning. When I'm learning something. I want to not care about what this person is thinking of me. And this person was so that. Okay, he's just like, he could be my uncle. He actually felt like, yeah, he felt like an uncle. And I was like, this is great. And for the first, like, 30 minutes of the lesson, we are doing stuff that, to me, makes no sense. We're, like, learning how to, like, jump while wearing the ski boots, which, like, I get, you know, it's like, all, like, understanding mobility and, like, how to move and stuff. But I was impatient. I was like, oh, my God, I feel like I'm not learning enough. How is this going to prepare me to, like, go up on the mountain? And meanwhile, while we're doing these, like, really odd, minor movements, like jumping around with the ski boots on or, like, clicking in and out of the skis 50 times to make sure that we know how to do it, I'm watching experienced skiers and snowboarders go up on the ski lift and just absolutely be so far off the ground that if they fell, they would die. They would absolutely die immediately. And if they survived, it would be a medical miracle. Okay? And I'm watching that, and I'm watching people not even pull down the safety bar and just be sitting there willy nilly. And I'm starting to feel a pit in my stomach. But I'm like, you know what? This lesson is going to prepare me to the point where I feel ready to go on the ski lift. So I keep the, you know, the attitude positive, but I start to get frustrated very quickly because as we're doing these, like, small, minor little exercises, clicking the shoe in and out of the. Out of the ski and, like, you know, balancing on one foot for, like, a minute to see if we could do it. I started to struggle with these minor little actions, and I was like, I'm fucked. I'm fucked. How am I supposed to ever get to a point today where I can even go down an adult mountain? You know, how am I gonna get to that point if I can't do these little warmups? And so my attitude starts to shift a little bit, and I keep it together. I'm not, like, being an asshole completely, but, like, I get a little quiet. I'm like, I'm. I'm scared. Everyone else in the group is seemingly feeling less nervous than me. Like, they're excited about the ski lift. They're excited about all that. They're not afraid. They're not as anxious as me, you know, so eventually we start going down bunny Hills, okay? And the first few times it was a catastrophe. Okay? The instructor's explaining, you know, how it works. Like, in order to slow down, you want to put, you know, the top tips of the skis together and the back tips of the skis out in the shape of like a triangle or a pizza or whatever. And that's how you control your speed. Like, that's how you go slow. That was self explanatory enough, but the first handful of times that I went down, I needed him to be skiing backwards right in front of me to prevent me from like, I don't know, just like barreling down the bunny hill. It was just a mess, okay? It was a mess. And I kept slipping and like, like kind of like almost falling. It was just not good. And I was clearly not a natural. Meanwhile, there's like 7 year olds around me who are just so good. And I was like, all right, I don't know how this is going to go. And if something doesn't click for me soon, like, I'm screwed. Meanwhile, some people in the group, you know, more rebellious members of the group who are taking the ski lesson are like, fuck this, I'm just going to go, okay? So some people just leave the ski lesson and just start going up with the experienced skiers in our friend group and snowboarders. But a few of us stay back and continue. And I'm really the only one that's nervous in. My anxiety only gets worse and worse because I'm not like learning at the pace that I feel like I need to, to be able to meet up with the group, to go down the mountain for real at some point that day, you know, so we practice, we go down the bunny hill again and again. And finally I start to get it. Like, I don't need the instructor to be there anymore. I'm actually like doing pretty well. And then, you know, he explains how to do turns and, you know, weaving back and forth. And that actually comes pretty easily to me. And I'm like, wait a minute. I think it clicked. I think I'm an incredible skier now. So I start to feel more confident and I start to get sort of excited. I'm like, all right, you know what? It's a little frightening, It's a little scary, but I can do this alone, you know, Like, I don't need him anymore. It's okay. And so it was almost lunchtime and my whole friend group was like, hey, we should do one run all together down the mountain before lunch. And so I was like, you Know what? Fuck yeah. Like, I think I'm ready. Let's do it. And the instructor was gonna come with us, and so I was like, let's do this thing. So we get in line to get on the ski lift and I start having a panic attack, absolute panic attack, okay? And I'm shaking and I'm telling the instructor, I'm like, I don't think I can do it. And he's like, you can totally do it. It's totally fine. And then I'm telling my friends, I'm like, you guys. And mind you, some of these friends I've only met like once, right? So it's not like these are people that I'm comfortable with having a panic attack in front of. These are people that do not know me like that. They don't need to see that. However, here I am starting to have a panic attack and some members of the group are like, don't go. Like, just don't go. You know, it's all good. And then some are like, come on, you've made it this far. Like you just got to do it. And I was like, fuck, you know what? I made it this far. I came out, I rented the skis, like, I did the whole thing. I need to go down the mountain just once. And the instructor reassured me, like, we're going down the easiest one. It's a little bit long. It's like a two mile run, which is a bit longer than normal, but you know it's going to be okay. And I'm like, yeah, but I don't know how to go on the ski lift. Like, I don't, I don't understand it. What if I fall? What if I trip? What if it pushes me over? He's like, you'll be totally fine. Like, you know, it moves slower than you think. You'll be able to get on safely. We'll bring down the bar. He's like reassuring me, reassuring me, reassuring me. And I'm starting to cry and I'm like, fuck, Emma, you can't start crying. You just have to fucking go improve to yourself that you do it. You can't cry. You're not, you're. There are seven year olds going on the ski lift, like laughing like you are a 23 year old woman. Hold it fucking together, okay? We need to hold it together. So I'm choking down my tears. I really just want to explode with tears and just start crying. But I'm holding it together, holding it together. And I'm like almost in shock as I'M like, gliding over to the ski lift and getting in line to get on. And I get into position. I'm shaking, okay? I literally. I'm so dissociated at this point. I literally don't. I feel like I'm dreaming. Like, I feel like I need to pinch myself and make sure I'm, like, actually a real human being and that this is actually happening. That's how bad I was panicking. And it swoops me up and I look down, and within six seconds, I'm so far off the ground that if I fell in that moment, I would die. And I start screaming, like, crying, okay? Crying. And I hold onto the arm of my instructor. I felt so bad. Like, this is. I didn't ask permission if I was allowed to, like, but I was so frightened like a child that I start bawling. I grab his arm and I'm like, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so scared. He's like, it's totally fine. It's totally fine. Everything's fine. I start sob, gushing, gushing tears, okay? Meanwhile, two of the friends in the friend group are on the ski lift with me. One who was in the lesson with me and one other friend who's more experienced. We've hung out multiple times, okay? We're totally friends, but they don't know me like that. You know what I'm saying? Like, I don't cry in front of my best friends like that even. I've never cried like that in front of my best friends. And now suddenly, I am bawling, bawling snot running down my face like a fucking seven year old. And I. I'm kind of enjoying it, though, at the same time, like, I'm freaking out, okay? Realizing how afraid I am of heights, you know? It's all coming to me. This episode is brought to you by Hulu. Buckle up, everybody, because the Kardashians are back. The new season of the Kardashians is now streaming on Hulu. I have been watching the Kardashians since I was a kid, okay? I grew up with this family, okay? I always want to know what they're doing. And in this new season, Kim is juggling multiple businesses and her blooming acting career. Chloe revisits old feelings, and the family members support one another through their personal journeys. And as always, it's full of fame, family, and fun. You won't want to miss it. The new season of the Kardashians is now streaming on Hulu.