By Merisa Sherman I could tell she was a little nervous. You could see how small she made herself, her little arm wrapped around her mom’s leg as she peered around from the back. She wanted to be there and didn’t want to miss anything, but at the same time she wasn’t quite sure what…

By Merisa Sherman I was shaking from the inside out. I could feel it in my chest, my arms and legs and all the way into my fingers and toes. My heart was racing faster than if I had climbed Trail A up Killington. My voice came out raspy and I couldn’t catch my breath.…

By Merisa Sherman I could feel the wind in my hair, the sun on my face and hear the laughter of my friends nearby. You could feel the energy surrounding you, almost warmer than the sun, as sleepy people turned to offer each other hugs and mimosas. It reminded me of graduates waiting for their…

By Merisa Sherman How do you start your day? If you have been reading any self-help books or scrolling the internet lately, you might have seen a remarkable trend: The all-importance of the morning routine. They might all vary on the precise implementation of this routine and what is essential versus what is recommended, but…

By Merisa Sherman I could hear him. He was there, skiing the line next to me and humming or singing, I’m not really sure which. It was like the two put together although I’m not sure how that could be. I tried to focus on my own turns, on the line of moguls before me…

By Merisa Sherman I can feel the squishy soil in between my toes with each step. My toes spread apart as they sink into the freshly rained upon ground and I know I am joining with the earth. I can feel my toes curl downward as I reach my opposite leg forward, striding through the…

By Merisa Sherman In Japan, citizens of all kinds take pilgrimages to bless aspects of their lives. Business will travel to remote temples to have a monk bless their financial futures; old women will come, panting with each step, so they may have a blessing for their grandchildren; and the young come without knowledge, looking…

By Merissa Sherman I was at a bonfire party, staring at the beautiful clear sky. The stars were starting to come out, just a little twinkling and the wind had noticeably evaporated. It was weird, and almost unnoticeable except for the fact that the wind hadn’t stopped roaring for the entire month of April. And…

By Merisa Sherman I cannot pull away. I want to ride Cascade over and over and over again. Ok, alternating with Downdraft. They have been so playful. I could actually feel my heart smiling. So smooth and buttery and beautiful, with a touch of graininess to it. But not that chunky graininess that trips you…

By Merisa Sherman There’s dust in my eyes, but I’m trying to ignore it as I relax in my lawn chair. I have to turn my head to stop the dust from going down my throat — or worse, into my drink. Willing myself to believe that a bluebird 48-degree day is perfect parking lot weather, …

By Merisa Sherman There was barely room to move. Skis and people were everywhere, strewn about so that one could barely see the snow beneath their boots. So many people gathered in one place that the sound was almost deafening. The cheers of approval when something amazing happened and the groans as we watched someone…

By Merisa Sherman It’s spring! It’s spring! I can hear the birds beginning to chirp in the mornings as the sun warms my lawn. It’s so nice to watch as the grass on my lawn is getting less crinkly and more green every day. The snow has melted and I think it might be one…

By Merisa Sherman We gather quietly at the peak to mourn, staring out at the Green Mountains below. The memorial service is complete, the sounds of whispers can be heard amongst the constant sniffles. A snowball vigil, a moment of silence, and so, so many tears. Someone shares a memory and another shares a simple…

By Merisa Sherman My eyes are closed and my thick comforter is wrapped around my body so tightly I can’t tell when the bed begins and I end. It’s so warm and cozy, I feel like a sleepy old bear trapped deeply in my hibernation cave. The space is almost like a vacuum, and you…

By Merisa Sherman “We could go that way,” said the skier. “Or that way could be nice, too.” the skier said, waving the bamboo ski pole in one direction. “But we could go that way instead perhaps.” The skier looked around, paused in a clearing amidst the woods, unsure of where they might be but…