Ah, winter. A white Christmas. The ideal Bostonian winter is normally below freezing, topped off with couple feet of snow. Instagram-worthy snowflakes, sledding, snowball fights, and chilly days indoors with a cup of hot cocoa. But this mid-December Boston is not exactly what we imagined it would be. Aside from the thin snow blanket that covered the ground last week, nothing notable about a normal winter has happened.

Despite such strange weather, there are still things you can do amidst the warmer-than-average climate. One activity I can still participate in is ice skating. It gives me a sense of independence, while still being something I can enjoy with friends. In fact, I think ice skating is life. Not so much in the sense that I love it so much that I would call it life, but because every aspect of it can be attributed to some element of life. Here’s why.

Picture this. You enter the skating rink. It’s bright, white, and full of cold opportunity. This is the equivalent of waking up to a new day with a fresh face. Your alarm goes off, you open your eyes, and with a positive attitude, you’re ready to take on the day.

You then trade your shoes in for a nifty pair of ice skates. They’re less than perfect; they’ve got some scuffs on the sides, and the blades are not as sharp as you would like them to be. But they’ll do. This is essentially you knowing that although you have some imperfections and not everything in life is where you would like it to be, you still accept yourself and the blessings that have been bestowed upon you, and smile in the hopes of a glorious triumph (or skating session).

You fervently tie these shoes tightly on your feet, and, guided by the railings, climb into the slippery rink. You almost lose your balance once. Then twice. Okay, a couple of times. But, with patience and effort, you recover from error and develop a technique. Instead of accelerating your feet straightforward, you angle them in a manner that allows you to glide more smoothly through the ice. This is you slowly learning how to navigate the slippery slopes of life. You use the resources and knowledge you accumulate to learn from your mistakes and progress as an individual. Though there may not be things in your favor, you embrace them and learn how to work through and around them until you finally figure it out.

Now, imagine yourself majestically gliding through the rink. You’re soaring, flying. The wind hits your face in all the right places, and you can’t help but smile while basking in the glory of it all. There’s nothing you can’t do. This is you at your peak. Maybe you aced an exam you thought you were surely going to fail, or the food at the Dining Hall wasn’t half bad today, or those shoes you’ve been meaning to buy are suddenly marked half off. Whatever the case, you’re on cloud nine and aren’t coming down anytime soon.

You realize you’re having so much fun, and someone up sneaks behind you and suddenly, you’re flying together. Your skating experience is so much more enjoyable than you ever thought possible. Arms outstretched, fingers clasped, you and your partner take on the challenge of skimming through the ice like you were born for it. You hit a bump and fall again, but this person is right by your side to help you up, and the two of you laugh hysterically about it.

Metaphorically speaking, this is you sailing through life with other people. This other figure is someone you look up to: mother, friend, teacher, someone you fancy. A mentor. This particular someone not only makes life more delightful, but you can also lean on them for support. Through all the difficult times, their hands will be available to pat you on the back, their shoulder there to cry on, their laugh available to uplift your spirit.

After hours of fun, your feet start to get sore. You might even feel a blister start to form. Circling around the rink gets tiring, so you decide to return home to the comfort of your pile of homework. You return your shoes and look back at it all. The memories of swirling around the ice and falling stupidly on your bum make you grin. You’re definitely coming back soon.

This is you reminiscing about all the fantastic memories you create. Either by looking through old photos or videos, calling a friend, reading a book, you find ways to return to slivers of your life you hold close to your heart. This makes you happy for a second, and you remember what makes you thrive. In the midst of everything, it is important to remember yourself flying through the ice rather than being hung up on all those painful falls.