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Change is often a good thing no matter how unwanted it may be in the moment. It can be uncomfortable when our norm is thrown off, but a change in perspective is all that is needed. We live in a world where nothing ever remains the same. I apply Newton’s Laws to help understand. I don’t think Newton’s Law only applies to motion; when put into the context of change I think it also makes sense.
Newton’s First Law
Every object moves in a straight line unless acted upon by a force. Everyone likes things to stay the same, but life happens, and things get shaken up. Maybe you met someone that changed your perspective, or you experienced a life event that redefined your priorities. Your life is changed by everyday events, maybe sometimes in small unnoticeable ways, and others so drastic you immediately take notice.
Newton’s Third Law
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. There are two forces at play in life here; Conservatism which prefers things to stay as they are and Liberalism which prefers things to progress.
Both principles apply in sport. There are people that believe the rules should never change, the current make up should stay the same, and things are just fine as they are. At the same time, there are people who want to expand access and create opportunities for change. Just as in the bigger picture of life, there are those who want to keep others out and those who want to let more people in.
For example:
Winter Sports
In the winter sports world, skiing and snowboarding are very expensive sports. Skis and snowboards cost roughly $300 - $12,000 (if you are buying YSL designed skis), but really it is between $300 to $1,200. Boots cost roughly $300 to $1,200. Pants and Jackets cost roughly about the same. Helmets can go from $50 to $300. Ski Lifts and Season Passes go from $70 to over $1,000. That doesn’t include lessons, travel, or lodging. And rentals aren’t cheap either. That means there is a huge percentage of people who might not experience the world of snow sports due to a lack of disposable income to be able to participate.
One could argue the rising cost is going to keep people out. The technological advancements of snow sport gear maintain an ever-rising cost to participate. And there is an argument that climate change is negatively impacting the winter sport season, making snow fall unpredictable, affecting the season length and quality, ultimately increasing the expenses for resorts trying to maintain quality slopes. There are those who argue this is just the nature of the sport and see no need for change. At this ever-growing rate, winter sports will go from elitist to super elitist if we don’t advocate that the community make snow sports more accessible and attainable for all.
So why is change in this case a good thing? Change can reset the norm. It can work to create better circumstances all around and it can challenge the status quo to expand opportunities for others. There is opportunity in change; an opportunity for new ideas, new experiences, new customer market-base, and growth. So I challenge you to embrace change and fight for the norms to not remain norms.
