(SitNews) Klawock, Alaska - I was putting together a list of quotes for a graduate school class and ended up tying my brain in a massive ball of wisdom from John Wooden to Jimmy Chitwood in Hoosiers.

I started to wonder if there was a quote or two that I live by. Not that I’d like to think I live by, but actually do live by - there is a difference. You can really like quotes, but that doesn’t mean they really encompass your existence.

“The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.” (Jack London).

We like to see ourselves a certain way - that we stand for good, that we are adventurous, that we are understanding, that it’s their fault for not seeing the good in us rather than us not realizing we aren’t good for them.

“People get stuck, thinking they are one kind of person, but they aren’t.” (Donald Miller).

So I guess there are times when a quote alters our immediate course, but it is difficult with everything else going on to stay true to the words that moved us.

I’d like to think I am a decent fisherman and a lot of other people tell me I am, probably because I post a lot of pictures of me with fish and I get out on the water as much as I can.

“The solution to any problem - work, love, money, whatever - is to go fishing, and the worse the problem, the longer the trip should be.” (John Gierach).  

The truth is that experience doesn’t make you an expert. I get into fish more because there are a lot of fish around and because I know some fundamentals. I’m not one of those dudes who can spot a lone brown trout in clear water from the side of a hill, stalk it, and make one perfect cast from 70 feet.

So there are times when I wonder what it is that makes me qualified to write about fishing or anything really. Sometimes I get emails from people asking the same thing.

“Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react.” (Charles Swindoll).

But that’s an assumed risk of not only writing, but most worth-while endeavors. It is impossible to remove risk because if there is no risk there can be no growth. Growth and change are not always easy to handle.

“Fear isn’t only a guide to keep us safe, it’s a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life.” (Donald Miller, again).

This past winter was anything but boring and I’m now overwhelmed with all that I can do, have to do, and will be able to do. The days aren’t longer, but the sun sticks around longer and provides ample time to play around in the woods, or get all the work I didn’t get done around the house because it was cold, dark, wet or frozen.

“There is no substitute for hard work.” (Thomas Edison).

There are difficulties with living in Southeast Alaska, some of which (buffalo wing cravings) can be fixed with a spring break trip to California, but the day in day out life here requires a little extra something.

Something you might find in a quote you try to live by.

Jeff Lund ©2014

Jeff Lund is a Teacher, Freelance Writer, & River fishing guide (Tranquil Charters) living in Klawock, Alaska
Contact Jeff at Email – aklund21@gmail.com

http://www.jlundoutdoors.com

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