Dedicated to my late father, Angelo Cassanelli:

From beginning to end, you were always there. Still are, I'm certain. When WHY comes to mind, you follow. Constantly here, guiding me as you always have, I'm certain. The inspiration for all I do, have ever done, and always will. This one's for you, dad. As I remain certain, there was no other WHY. 

Personal WHY:

“Life is just a short visit, so don’t waste it!” he often said, which resonates now more than ever before. Twenty-seven years was the time we were allotted. I’m grateful for each one. WHY did he insist on preparing me for such a day from such a young age? Why are we placed on this rock, forced to figure it the fuck out, with only one shot and the clock ticking? We may never know. WHY, on the other hand, am I inspired to share his ideologies for HOW our short trip should be spent? The answer to this question has never been so clear.

For both of us, our why revolved directly around passion. Passion for the outdoors and sharing that love with everyone around. My dad had this unique way of getting people outside. Rain or shine, fuss or flu, nature was his remedy. From early morning till nightfall, we’d spend days on end exploring. Cruising from the coast to the mountains and somehow making it home before bedtime. Cooler full, camera (always) in hand, ready for whatever the day would bring. Memories so fond one could only dream of replicating.

Early Days:

I remember the winter that would change everything. Discouraged after our favorite sledding hill shut down due to the undoubtedly dangerous jumps us thrill-seeking kids would launch each other off. My dad brought me to the next best place to slide on snow for a Christmas surprise: A little ski slope near my hometown, in Haverhill, MA, Bradford Ski. I was overwhelmed by what I thought at the time was a massive sledding hill, which I quickly learned is an activity way cooler than that of plastic saucers and inflatable tubes: snowboarding. By no means did it come easy, but persistence proved to be greater than my abilities. I became hooked from the first days of tumbling downhill and, still today, a more controlled version of tumbling.

The joy of such a simple concept, with the endless progression opportunities, still blows me away, that my father could tell. Not the most athletically gifted or adrenaline-driven, he followed suit and picked up his skis again. A sport he had neglected for over twenty years since living in Colorado. Each weekend we would hit the road searching for snow and our new favorite ski mountains to explore. For a brief moment in time, while at different ability levels and typically on other trails, we shared the same experience. A young kid with a newfound form of expression, alongside his father, rekindling an old hobby.

Becoming a Local:

We quickly expanded our horizons. The following winter, we began regularly volunteering as adaptive ski/snowboard instructors at Mount Sunapee, NH, and finally experienced what it was to live locally. While renting out a motel on weekends or couch surfing at fellow instructors’ homes isn’t exactly considered living “Local,” it sure felt like it to us! Alongside our occasional hop over the border to Vermont, my life’s direction was becoming apparent. It was only high school, and I knew exactly where I wanted to be; In the mountains. The exact location was uncertain, but the path had been paved. Many people along the way influenced this dream, but without my father’s unbounded support, none of this would have been possible. So for that and everything else along the way. Thank you, Dad.

WHY start a blog? 

Fast Forward ten years, and here I am, finally picking up the pen, maybe even the camera, and doing something of true purpose. With my dad’s essence, values, and wisdom lighting the way, as if; he is still here. WHY it took so long to start may have been due to self-doubt or fear of acceptance. All of which no longer matter. This is my heart, passion, a gift to share with anyone willing to hear. My form of expression. This is WHY.

An idea I’ve toyed with for a while. I needed to figure out where to start, what kind of content to create, and how to express myself; I was stuck. Then it dawned on me. Rather than stressing over all the logistical crap, refocus on what’s important. The easiest thing to miss, yet most crucial. WHY

Why do I even want to do this in the first place? Why is self-expression via blog vital to me? And why now? Why didn’t I start sooner? Why insist on writing as a hobby? Why? When I can barely stand the thought of texting or social media. So many why’s emerged. While contemplating everything under the sun, yet another flash of the pan smacked me upside the head. This time, of a little more sustenance. WHY NOT!?

WHY Not?

Why not follow your dreams? Why not share with the world the things that bring such joy? Why not me? Why can’t I do it? And why is there a false sense of skepticism holding me back!? It’s just the compilation of words published that only those interested in reading will view, right? There are no rules to expression! If my topics don’t suit you, fuck right off! Pardon my french; in the middle of self-expression here… I digress. There was no reason to be afraid; The choice was obvious. There is no time like the present and no more excuses to be made!

All of these thoughts led me to answer more profound questions. Such as what drives me to be better? What encourages me to wake up each morning? With that, many people come to mind. My mother, my beautiful daughter Madison, my family, friends, and of course, my greatly missed father. Next, you may ask, why/how are some days easier to roll out of bed than others? This is a solution I discovered upon my many excursions with pops. It directly correlates to where I wake up each morning. The formula is simple. Wake up in a shitty place? Probably gonna have a shitty time. It may be a bad attitude, but a necessary problem to avoid, as It’s hard to have a bad day when beginning somewhere you love. That place for me is Vermont, with my mission simple. To portray WHY Vermont is so important to me, in hopes of sharing it with you!

Failure is no option:

As I walk this path, still unsure where it leads or if it’s right, one thing is sure: sticking to timeless guidance and values with pure intentions remains the top priority. By staying true to my beliefs, sharing what’s special to me, and passing on the joy it brings, I’ll continue to find happiness—remembering WHY it all matters keeps me focused, a constant reminder that failure is no option.