RS Vacations – Big Bear Lake, CA

Can:

1) To be able to do, make, or accomplish
2) Be made possible or probable by circumstances or choice

Can’t:

1) Can not

I have always disliked the word can’t. It is so final. Can’t simply means that you have given up. Have I used the word? Absolutely. Am I proud of those moments? No.

I hear people all the time say “I can’t do this” or “I can’t do that”. Why? Usually because they don’t want to put the effort into making something happen or because they are afraid to try something. I have been guilty of that.

Years ago, my hubby wanted me to go skiing with him. I hadn’t been on skis since I was a kid and well, let’s face it – I’m a big girl. I said, “I can’t”. He said, “Why not?” I then proceeded to give him every excuse in the book. “I won’t fit into those pants”, “If I fall down, I wont be able to get up”, and so on. He simply told me that he really wanted to spend time with me, he knew I could do it, but it was ultimately up to me.

He really knows how to get to me! But you know what? He was absolutely right. I went skiing, overcame my fear and doubt, had a great time with my husband and felt proud of myself for changing “I can’t” into “I can”. We continue to ski several times most seasons and I still love it and get better each time.

This coming Saturday is the Ski-a-Thon Fundraiser for the USARC (US Adaptive Recreation Center) at Bear Mountain. The USARC provides adaptive skiing and other outdoor recreation and sports to people with disabilities. These are people that have every reason to say “I can’t” but instead choose to say “I can”. I am awed by their determination and courage to do things most of us take for granted. They are choosing to live their life to the fullest. Shouldn’t we all?