Alaska Chick Rule #24, Don't Wait For The Rain To Stop
~ Hi everyone! This post is a little late, I know. (It is Sunday! It's just not done! I am so sorry!) All those balls I've been juggling along pretty good lately, today, well, not so good. Oh, and I took this rule from the Alaska rulebook I have put together over the years. (I've written lots of how-tos-in-Chisana-kind-of-manuals in the years I've been here like The Chisana Guidelines, The Generator's Life.) Basically, no matter if it's cutting wood, chasing horses, or just living...Don't Wait For The Rain To Stop!
In the moments I have taken to check on the "bigger" world, today, I also noticed that I'm not the only one. Ya know, at one time I am sure, I would have only said, "today sucked." It's not one time, though. It's this time. Right now. Today counts. All the shit? It doesn't compare to the rest. Not even close.
So, instead of boring you with my equivalent of one of your own piss-ass-rotten-days, I'm going to share with you, some of the reasons that I will never again forget the blessings and cheerful and enlightening and good that happens even on the worst of bad days.
I started the day, purging and sorting my mail files and different things I've kept for this or that. (~At this point, I now have 38 - 2", 3" and 4" binders of contacts, lessons, blog posts I keep for reminders, to learn from, to re-read occasionally, like today!)
Below are some of the highlights from the last few months, that I took strength from and some recent pictures from Chisana and home.
“Wiggity Wack” by Margie Clayman. (~ I mean seriously, you smiled, right?)
Kaarina Dillabough told me that when “the student is ready, the teacher appears." This was her answer to me about the profound magic that appears on my screen when something is really plaguing my mind. (I am trying, really I am.)
Lori at Life for Instance, gave us all “A Life Without Problems” to show us how our state of mind effects and affects our lives, everyday. This post also inspired an
d sparked Kaarina Dillabough into another great insight, "problems are simply opportunities in work clothes."
Stan Faryna... An American man, a Romanian gentleman, who stops my heart with the words he puts down for us all, anyone at all, to read. (Is it only me?) Here is a bit of what Stan said to Lori about that same post, “I started the morning with a thankful heart for the opportunities and blessings within each problem. That thankfulness carried itself into a warm thankfulness for people near and far - people who lift up my heart.” So many times today, I listened to Stan's reading of the Desiderata. How moving. It helped me find strength in a day that could have crumbled my foundation, without it. (You should listen, it is beautiful. The Desiderata. A how to – for living graciously. Faryna Podcast EP6. )
Rachel Vane is going to have all her brain cells fried (~and that would be terrible! we love her brain!) if she stays anywhere that people can actually say “I'm in hotter-than-hot Chandler, AZ, near phoenix. 117 today!” (~GEEZE)
What the heck is “Huzzah!?” ~ Danny Brown?!
Mark Harai for putting the idea into my little girl's mind (~well, ok, I'm the one that repeated it!) that we should have a monkey and teach it to ride a horse!
Steve Bloom @DoSomethingCool, Cecil (~my favorite "Uncle" and just a fantastic human being!) @IronCooker, Billy Delaney, @tshombe, (~who always have something nice to say, a "smile" to share, like friends you pass on the way to the post office), Eugene Farber is @EugeneFarber and RealityBurst.com (~he shares his journey to the life he wants in a way that resonates so deeply.) “Nobody drifts into success. You must aim for it & push for it w/ everything you have. Drifting will land you in the rocks.” ~That one came from @travisro.
I can’t say enough about Leo and Joel about their wonderful Buffer App. It really put Twitter into my reach and understanding. Have a question? These guys are 100% there to help. (~yes, I save EVERYTHING!!)
Stacey Herbert @mylifestylemax, my friend, Jamie. Well, she’ll also take your heart and squeeze it, while she’s holding that metaphorical mirror up to your face.... That special mirror that allows you to “SEE” into your own soul. Not what you would like or imagine is there to see or believe, but the real, honest, you. She’s amazing. Now if I could just get her to give up this strange obsession she has with sand... (~LOL)
Aaron Biebert @8pmWarrior is an amazing, good man, ready to make a difference and has his eyes wide open. He reminds me so much (~ through his writing) of my Dad. I keep trying to get them on the phone with each other, I think there would be an instant “recognition” between them.
Frank Dickinson, a man I met online, who makes you (me) feel as if you’ve (I've) been friends forever and you are just "catching up" whenever you chat on Twitter or comment on his post. The kind of friend that makes you smile, makes you think and lets you talk to him about anything at all. He’s smart, successful and deep down good.
Carrie Zilka I met on Twitter, @CarrieZylka and followed her to her blog, loves hunting and detests stupid people doing stupid shit as much as I do! I can’t wait for her to come to Alaska to hunt with me! ~Maybe she can help me with my archery!!
Being present and part of the cheering section for some absolutely wonderful and brilliant humans has really touched me as well! Mark Schaefer and his forward momentum, Brian Meeks and his wonderful Henry Wood and best of all, we have a new baby!! Yipee and God Bless Mr & his Mrs. Michael Schechter (!!) and God Bless brand spankin' new Emily!!
@yogizilla, Yomar Lopez is such a good friend, one who’s always willing to pull an all-nighter via Twitter to keep me going and laughing, to keep me on task and answer the tough questions. You can see so much about who he is and what he represents, by visiting anything he has written or built.
~Just a thought. Who would have ever thought or guessed I would have the time / day change written on my computer-mat in permanent marker for France or Romania?! Good grief, not I! (But boy, am I grateful that I have that reason!)
A huge respect and friendship for Constantin Gabor @highballsport, my Chief of the mighty (and becoming mightier!) Outdoorsy Stuff on @Triberr for finding and picking me to be part of the elite and mighty. Along with the fantastic Ian Harford and his Team Wild and the incredibly patient, supportive and experienced Kevin Paulson of Hunting Life, they are part of my day, every day.
Dino Dogan, JK Allen... guys I have great respect for how they get their points across and let you know that it’s fine and dandy to be all you can- even when it’s better than the half-assed efforts of the people trying to set the low-and-easy bar. The “Standard” and everything it can mean... everything it should mean.
I have used this in my day-to-day life so much since I first heard it from Janet Callaway. “Never Complain, Never Explain.”
~I can't thank these hot-shot Ladies enough:
@Soulati, Jayme, inspired the “My Identity Crisis” page.
@JanetCallaway inspired the “About Alaska Chick” page.
@LiveUrLove, Brankica inspired the “Let's Connect” page.
On LinkedIn in the middle of July, I met a very cool chick, Sherry Lee. Sherry is also the Survivor Lady. She’s on her way to the Alaskan Peninsula, Aniakchak National Park near the Kluane River and will be attempting (I say, “doing”) a 90-Day Survival Yukon Challenge. No, not the entirely ridiculous “Survivor Man” but an entirely different perspective from a very interesting and amazing Lady from California. (~You should check her out, she’s great!)
~It was a beautiful day ( ~it stopped raining by 9am and we had blue skies!)and my children actually played really sweetly, together today. It's not always easy on either of them, as Zach is 12.5 and Isabella is 4. They are both my only reason somedays. I treasure them and what they show me of the world every single day. (Even the pre-teen days!)
~When you're having a crappy day, what thoughts can yank you out of the negativity and "give-up" thoughts? What memories do you use? Who inspires you?
I am, Alaska Chick.
“As you look, really look, and find no words; feeling both, your heart healing and filling to an inner bursting point and feeling that your soul has been laid open to the breeze and wind like a raw wound. This takes you beyond the physical, past the mental; this is the spiritual element. This is Chisana.”
My name is Amber-Lee Dibble and I am the Manager at Pioneer Outfitters. We are located in the Wrangell St. Elias National Park & Preserve, our nation’s largest, most unexplored, unexploited and untouched National Park.
I am Mom, the Manager and the lead Guide of the Extreme Pro Team Guides. Born a Capricorn 1, Week of the Ruler, on the Day of The Indomitable One.
Pioneer Outfitters has been taking people into the wilderness of Alaska on horseback for Spiritual, Pleasure, Gold Panning, Glacier Exploring and Historic Trail Pack Trips, as well as Big Game Hunting and Survival & Guide Training since 1924. We, our family and our horses have always lived here year-round. As we make our life, we make our “living.”
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