As New Englanders, we are a rare breed. While people elsewhere are dreading the change from the bright and warm summer fading into a gray and humbling winter, we have been waiting for this all year. The snow is a chance to prove ourselves to ourselves. To challenge ourselves. To cleanse ourselves, in a way, from all that has happened since last winter. We can feel the cold in our blood.
Very few things in Vermont are accomplished through the easiest method. We boil the kettle to fill the French press. We use the cloth napkins. We travel only north to south, making a 20 mile drive take well over an hour. We live in one of the toughest climates in the world. Whatever we do out here, we have to work hard for it.
Soon we will be visited by thousands, who look to peek their head into our snow globe. To catch a glimpse into our tightly woven ecosystem. Where new folks from all over head up the hill and can give a wave to Santa watching over us from the Killington Mall.
As the weather gets colder, let’s take the opportunity to become warmer to each other. Warmer to the people that live in our community. Warmer to the weekend warriors who spend all week waiting to let loose with us. Warmer to the people coming from different countries to experience our community and to help things run smoothly for us.
Let us use this winter season as an opportunity to evolve what we have here. Let’s use this as an opportunity to invite people in. To include people. To strike up a conversation with someone wearing a silly avocado butt cushion while skiing down the hill for their first time. Every one of us was new once.
Let’s take time to think of what makes this a place worth visiting. It’s more than just the mountain. Let’s consider the idea that the strength of this community is defined by our weakest links. Let’s not gatekeep this wonderful place.
As the mountain village is built let’s fight the urge to become a members only VIP club, and instead show everyone what this community is about. Let’s use these next few seasons to take our joy for the snowy adventures and include it in every interaction. Even with the people that we are least close to. Let’s take this season to show everyone here, and all of our visitors, how different we are from other ski communities and that we always bring the love and good vibes. Let’s take this opportunity to make some new friends and to welcome back in old friends.
Every one of us took our first run at one time. Every one of us came here, wondering how we could fit in and found our place. Let’s not forget that without the welcoming and inclusive energy of the locals, we may have not chosen to stay here. Let’s remember what it was like to spend our first year here and treat each other the way we wish we had been treated at the beginning, before we found our place in the community.
Let’s try to see this season under different light. A different angle. So we can see it almost for the first time. Let’s make this the best season yet and remind people why they should ski the East.
Bring on the snow!
