Living Life Downstream

Yeah! How about them apples?! The truth is, I've been at this game for 30 freakin' years.  You'd think I wouldn't have any problem with comparing myself to others or that I would be always on top of my game. FALSE. I can't believe how tough I can be on myself...how, if I make a mistake, I beat myself up in my head like I should know better, do better, be better. The truth is, everyone makes mistakes in fly fishing...and in life. We all suffer from "not-enough-ness" and fear of judgement. But why do we have to be our own worst critic? WE DON'T!

Fear is a big motivator or distractor in nature and in life. Unfortunately, I'm not always talking about grizzly bears and swift rivers.  How is fear showing up in your life as a driving factor? Can you even spot it?! Well, let's see....

As outdoor enthusiasts, we often tout our "free" lifestyle. CAUTION! You may not be as free as you think you are! I'm guilty of this too...but our thirst for knowing things, sorting things, comparing things, and labeling things does help us make sense of a big world full of vast ideas and knowledge, BUT, we must be aware of the possibility that that knowledge is also has a dark side... like the Force!

In episode #9, we get to chat with Amanda Jensen about the intimidation factor in starting a new journey, Missoula hipsters, sexism, Insta-fame, and blue nail polish.  Amanda's upbeat yet laid-back vibe makes for an easy conversation on light and deep subjects alike. So sit back and enjoy this discourse that touches on many things, especially being new AND female in a traditionally male-dominated (and even chauvinistic) arena.

"To everything (turn, turn, turn), there is a season (turn, turn, turn)" Aside from a melodically attractive and lyrically poignant tune from the Byrds, seasons show up in our lives in a variety of ways. Nature gives us many lessons, and embracing seasons is one of them.

We've been taught to put your head down and effort your way through life. What if I told you that this isn't usually the best way to build momentum in life!?

Jason Shemchuk (wadeoutthere.com, @wadeoutthereflyguy) has become a good friend, business partner, and perpetuator of Downstream ideals. Here's his story... from military pilot to fly fishing entrepreneur.

Pain is as much a part of life as joy. On some level (different for all of us), it is unavoidable. Unfortunately, most of us try to move away from pain rather than try to understand it. However, like warning lights on a dashboard, ignoring it can lead to more and long term suffering. Understanding pain is key to living life in the flow.

Sometimes I hear (or maybe I'm afraid that) all this talk is seemingly heavy and more work. Well, I want to dispel that myth and shed some light on the end goal of what we're doing here: f...u...n. Fun. Plain and simple.  We do the work that we do so that we are free and lighter to experience more joy and fun in our everyday.  So give this episode a listen and see what we mean.

When I first started fly fishing, there was no "fly fishing scene." Then, it exploded like a counter-culture alternative sport, which isn't a bad thing. I've spent a lot of time asking myself why I dedicated the last 30 years to this endeavor. With a lot of noise out there as to what fly fishing is/what it's supposed to be (including it's often elitist views) I delve into the personal and often wide-felt-but-not-articulated reason we choose to spend so much of our time, money, and energy here.