Paradise is defined as a place or atmosphere where a person is most content. It is somewhere where one can relax, think, and be truly at peace with themselves and the life they are living. To many, paradise comes in the form of white sandy beaches, the crystal blue ocean, palm trees, and a fruity drink in hand. To me, paradise is something completely different. Growing up in Colorado is, in my opinion, the closest thing to growing up in paradise. Why? Because we have actual seasons. It's never cold or hot all year round, and when the seasons change, so does the climate, and so does all of the potential adventures and activities one can experience.

I learned to ski at a very young age, and, well, I hated it. Mostly because it was freaking cold outside and my parents would wake me up at the crack of dawn only to jam my feet into uncomfortable boots for the rest of the day. And it never helped that flying down the mountain with icy pellets of snow stinging your face was something that also came with the package. But, no matter how much I initially disliked it, I was also five and didn't have much of a say on what the family did during the winter weekends.

As I got older, skiing grew on me. My skills began to improve and my knowledge on what to wear and how to keep from getting super cold began to increase as well. Although the boots still remain to be uncomfortable no matter what I do, I began to find solutions to all of my issues with skiing. And then, one day, I fell in love with it.

I can remember the day clearly, it was a Sunday afternoon in the middle of January. The sun was out and the air was crisp, Copper Mountain was crowded but not to the point that you had to dodge some dumb ass taking up the entire mountain every five seconds. It was still early enough in the morning that there was plenty of fresh powder from the night before, and I couldn't wait to dig my skis into it. I exited the ski lift on the very top of the middle peak, determined to challenge myself to a more difficult slope. But as I skied to the edge of the cliff and looked around, an overwhelming sensation of peace and serenity set over me. The view was absolutely incredible. Sparkly white powder cascaded down the mountain and in the distance wind blew light powder off of a taller peak. There was not a cloud in the sky nor the sound of voices in the background. It was just me and the mountains. It was at that moment that I realized there was nowhere else in the world I would rather be. I had never been so satisfied with my surroundings, nor so at peace with myself. I was happy and content, and I knew that no other place would bring me that kind of inner joy that being on top of that mountain did.