Be Thankful, Always

So with Thanksgiving coming up and seeing all the posts about what people are thankful for, it really got me thinking about the past couple years that I've been in Alaska.

This happened yesterday, and it just happened again today. I was bored and ended up looking through my summer photos of all the cool stuff I've seen since moving to AK. It reminds me how truly blessed I am to live in the most beautiful place on the planet and be surrounded by such awesome friends. 

I miss being on the water every day. I've always loved boats and the ocean, but being here and having the opportunity to work on a boat every day in the summer has taken that love to a whole new level. Words can't even begin to describe the excitement I feel every time I see a pod of orcas, or a humpback whale breaching, or a huge chunk of ancient ice calving off a glacier, or even the view of snow covered mountains as far as the eye can see. I know some people get 'burnt out' in the whale watching business, but I don't understand how that could be possible. Every job, business, and industry has its ups and downs, but to me, the little bit of bad doesn't even come close to how awesome the good is. Being in the presence of such beautiful, mysterious creatures is a blessing I'm grateful for every day. 

I also miss the SNOW. Why hasn't it freakin snowed yet?! Gonna have to take my snow dancing to a whole new level. I don't think I've ever been so excited to get on my snowboard as I am right now. This weekend is our returning instructor training, and I'm stoked to see everyone and get the good winter vibes flowing even more. I am glad I work for such an amazing ski area. Eaglecrest is truly a community ski area where you don't just have co-workers, you have a family of friends who care about each other and have a passion for what they do. Winters here are amazing to me, even with all the rain that comes with it!

I've said this a million times already, and I'll say it a million more. I LOVE Alaska. I truly feel like I am meant to be here. If someone would've asked me 5 years ago if I'd be where I am now and seen the crazy shit I've seen, I'd have told them they had lost their marbles. I thought I would never in my life get to hang out with orcas and whales on a daily basis, see massive glaciers calve, shred crazy mountains via helicopter, gaze at the northern lights more times than I can count, this list goes on... 

No matter where you are, make the most of it and be thankful for it. There is always a worse situation you could be in. Even if you think you have hit rock bottom, it could ALWAYS be worse. Some people think my life is just rainbows and sunshine, but believe me, I've seen my fair share of heartache, grief, and struggle. All the bad and the good has made me who I am today, and I wouldn't change a single thing. I truly believe in the law of attraction. If you stay positive and put out good vibes and energy, the universe will send it back to you. 

For example, just as I was typing those last few sentences, I started thinking about my dad and my papaw, and how I've lost the two most important men in my life in the past three years, but then I thought about what amazing lives they led. In that same moment, the sun came out just enough to create a beautiful bright rainbow in the channel, right outside my window. It instantly made me smile.  So I suppose sometimes life IS rainbows and sunshine if you put your mind to it. Even in those times of struggle, as hard as it may be to keep a smile on your face and stay positive, do it. Even if it's a fake smile, it will eventually turn back into a genuine one :) 

Don't forget... 

Be thankful, always.