TIB x Taylor Godber
We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Taylor Godber, an extraordinary woman who has forged a life founded on authenticity and purpose.
One of the best backcountry snowboarders, but also a chef, writer, surfer, yoga teacher and artist (we said extraordinary right?) Taylor’s journey is one of passion, and living life to the fullest.
In this exclusive interview, Taylor shares her insights that go beyond her remarkable achievements.
Taylor's story isn't just about conquering mountains; it's about conquering oneself. Drawing from her experiences in nature, she shares her wisdom on personal growth, mindfulness, and redefining beauty.
So, join us as we immerse ourselves in Taylor's world —one that promises to inspire, enlighten, and motivate you to see beauty where you didn’t before.
Taylor, I want to start with this beautiful and powerful quote by you: ‘One of my biggest fears isn't death itself, but to arrive at my final day feeling that I hadn't lived life to the fullest and that I hadn't had a positive impact on the world.’ I’m sure we can all relate that that! But what does a full life and positive impact on the world mean to you?
For me, there are a few ways that this quote lands, in a way they are kinda contradictory. To live a full life can mean to be present, truly engaged in what we are doing, which has a lot less to do with filling each moment with big experiences. In our current culture, life feels full, however full of opportunity for distraction for what matters most, in my opinion. An endless flow of phone notifications, an unsettling feeling of the need for everyone to be “busy” or accomplish things. So the idea is kinda to go against the grain with the cadence of that culture.
So my best interpretation of how I try to lead a life that feels full, is to live intentionally and mindfully, how I speak, listen, and move through the world; to fill my days with quality experiences over quantity, being in the mountains, surrounding myself with high vibe people; and trimming back screen time, making no time for drama or gossip, and being aware of what I let into my sphere, this can include music, shows, energetics of people and places.
It’s not to be confused with floating around, goals and direction feel important, but to be careful to not have horse blinders up, so heavily focused where it takes away from the magic of the actual moment, the beautiful nuances of the journey to get there.
The positive impact side of things, also has many branches. Put simply, be kind, don’t be an asshole. Diving deeper, it feels a bit overwhelming even contemplating this idea of “have a positive impact”, kinda that feeling of how easy it can be to try and hold up the clutter and chaos of muck of the world on our shoulders, it’s just too much. No one person can shift the collective, but we have the power to shift ourselves. So taking responsibility to show up and share happiness and remove suffering where we can; whether that’s a focus on our personal frequency that we are emanating or standing up for the ancient cedars, the ocean, the rivers, the animals, other people, by working with an organization, or simply embodying friendliness and smiling at a stranger. Every little bits matters, and at the end of the day, we are ALL connected.
Standing atop the Alaskan giants in The North Face's "Giant Beasts, Tiny People," you and Mary Rand were dropped by a helicopter at the top of the mountain's cliff edge. As you looked down the sheer, untouched face of ice and snow, what thoughts raced through your mind? How do you cultivate the mental fortitude to face such uncertainty and go for it anyway? Do you have any daily practices or rituals you use to cultivate mental strength and focus in those challenging moments?
I read once that excitement and fear have the same vibration, and being up there that’s kinda the elixir of emotion. Sometimes, I’m up there questioning, “why am I up here again?” But more often than not, I’m pretty excited to be there. It’s a constant balance act on the edge of possibility, and I like to joke that we are in the business of “fear management”. Honing in on how to calm the central nervous system in spaces where fear arises. Fear is important, we need it to survive, the art is in discerning if the fear is valid and real or made up stories in our psyche. Breathwork and meditation have become primary training techniques to help with this process, allowing the baseline of calm to be storm and to notice variances in it and come back to center, both in the mountains and day-to-day life. The goal is to not let fear hijack the experience. A mantra I like to meditate on, especially during the height of my season is: calm, present, joyful.
What are some of the greatest lessons you've learned from the mountains that you apply to everyday life?
Humility through perspective. One of my mountain partners who passed away in an avalanche a few years ago, would always, “let's go to the mountains, and get small!”. The perspective of standing on a mountaintop gives a broader view of the world and encourages us to look up and around, reflect and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us. And the forces felt, a towering mountain above us, remind us that there is something so much more greater than ourselves. Respect, humility, and an appreciation for the power of the peaks is a non-negotiable out there.
Patience. Success doesn’t come overnight and forging a relationship with the mountains teaches that it truly is all about the journey. That embracing the process vs solely focusing on the end result is the honey of the experience. Plus, being reliant on weather, well that gives way to another level of surrender.
There are so many lessons, like impermanence, resiliency, perseverance, appreciation for nature… the list is endless. Mother Nature leads a robust curriculum.
What does living authentically mean to you? And what are some ways you strive to live true to yourself, even when it's challenging?
Living authentically to me, means being yourself. Living in alignment with the true self’s beliefs, values, visions, and desires. It means, listening to the whisper of your heart and soul and embodying that. It’s the opposite of following the crowd, conforming to what you think you “should” be saying, wearing, saying…and exuding your true essence. The magic that is found when we strip away all the societal expectations, and letting go of anything that has the intention to seek approval or fit in. It’s not being afraid to be you, to stand out, it takes bravery.
Circling back to an earlier question, what I strive for is to be kind, compassionate, to celebrate what a blessing it is to be alive, here, on this planet, to live gently on this planet, and give back and remove suffering wherever and whenever I can. And to inspire that both power and grace can coexist and that there is no limit to possibility and potential. Dream big! Believe in yourself! You got this.
Your connection with nature through snowboarding and exploring the outdoors is deeply rooted in your life. Has this connection influenced the way you perceive and appreciate beauty?
Living a life deeply rooted and in companionship with nature continues to remind me of the interconnectedness of it all. Just as the mountains change over time, so do we. The snaking rivers seen from above look like veins in our bodies. Watching the seasons change, there’s that visual of the cyclical nature of it all: life, death, rebirth. Witnessing the communities within nature and learning more about that, continually inspires me, like the mycellium network, how trees talk, or watching a formation of hundreds of birds move like a wave in the sky never bumping into each other, or the migratory nature of some animals –endless inspiration.
Social media paints a distorted picture of beauty, creating unrealistic and harmful standards. What would you say to those who subscribe to the idea that beauty is solely based on appearances and our worth is determined by the texture of our skin, the symmetry of our faces or the size of our waist?
It’s tough. I feel that pressure from external sources and even within at times, to look a certain way. It’s one of our primal instincts, to belong within a community. It scares me how far it has come in our culture, this desire to never age. I mean, I catch myself noticing lines on my forehead I didn’t notice before, and looking at many people around me who have had botox, thinking “huh, that would make me look younger”. But, I just can’t give into it. No judgement, to each their own. I just personally feel a sense of responsibility to be an advocate against it, by embodying it, for the very reasons you have shared above and also echoing the inspiration from nature, we are meant to age. In my eyes, women who truly embrace that process exude beauty in a different way. There is a confidence that emanates from within them, that’s what beauty is to be. And I do my best to move in that direction. To see that the lines that have become more visible are from days spent in the mountains and oceans; and the journey of life, all the ups and downs, laughs and cries. I think it should be celebrated. The same goes with the size of our waists, or breasts, or the symmetry of our faces; just like the rings of trees, no one is the same, our differences are what make us beautiful.
Have you ever felt pressure to conform to a specific beauty ideal, and if so, how do you resist that pressure?
For a long time I really cared what I looked like. It took me an hour to get ready, I never left the house without mascara on, I just felt that I needed to be put together in order to be accepted. I was taught as a young girl to be “polished”. The more I leaned into sport, longer days in the mountains, more time in the ocean, I started to let the need to be “put together” go. I even let the pendulum swing the other way and embraced completely not caring, no make up, no dressing up, just practicality, it was freeing. And now I’m in a place where I’ve found a happy medium. Dressing up and tapping back into my idea of personal style and marrying that with practicality, for myself. Not to be seen, accepted, loved, celebrated, validated, just for me.
From the camaraderie shared with your girl crew out on the mountains to taking care of yourself, can you share some of the different ways you experience beauty in your life?
I think that taking the time to really lean into getting to know people, in a sense, seeing their soul shine through vs. the external is where beauty exists, in my opinion. And as for the mountain girl crew, Tatum Monod, Anna Segal, MP Prefontaine…there’s a long list, gosh they are all so beautiful, it bursts through in their confidence, their compassion, their drive, the zest for life, it literally makes them shine on the outside. As well, there is zero competitiveness amongst us, we celebrate each others wins in a way that I feel so fortunate to be around. We lift each other up! Adjust each others crowns when needed. Sisterhood.
Imagine you're in a room full of women. What message would you share about embracing life, celebrating individuality, and re-imagining the definition of beauty?
A long life is cut short by wasting any amount of time worrying about what other people think or trying to conform to any “shoulda woulda couldas” vs I must. It’s a disservice to the world to not follow your heart. So take up space, stand in your power, and be brave in embodying your true essence. This is what the world needs, for you to shine goddess!
Finally, Taylor, what is your definition of beauty?
Beauty is a vibe, it’s a feeling.
We hope you’re feeling as inspired as we are to embrace the beauty of living and get out there to experiece the world and all it has to offer.
You can watch The North Face Giant Beast Tiny People featuring Taylor here
Head over to Taylor’s website to find out more about her and her work - did we mention she was a chef, writer and hosted retreats?
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