tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post7637015520201675712..comments2023-12-28T21:22:10.935-07:00Comments on Jill Outside: A lack of colorJill Homerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02983065990450931943noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-4065312890470710452010-02-25T12:19:59.089-07:002010-02-25T12:19:59.089-07:00You can only know happiness when it doesn't ma...You can only know happiness when it doesn't matter anymore. The rest of the time your like a dog chassing its tail. Could it be that simple...Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12166233177598998430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-36258934034511125292010-02-22T20:41:21.499-07:002010-02-22T20:41:21.499-07:00I love that you asked your readers to comment on w...I love that you asked your readers to comment on what they thought would make you happy and then criticized your readers for not validating your desire to be an artist. If you want to be an artist, be an artist - why the need for external validation? Only you know what will make you happy. It sounds like the question you really wanted to ask was whether your readers thought you could succeed at being an artist? If so, another stupid question. Do what makes you happy. The rest will follow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-54530419444590095522010-02-22T08:52:01.897-07:002010-02-22T08:52:01.897-07:00I think you are maturing. Your carefree 20's ...I think you are maturing. Your carefree 20's are giving way to your 30's. You are asking what do I want out of life? I would think this would include a relationship, home and possibly children.<br /><br />I noticed that a lot of the 30 something Olympic competitors had a spouse, home and some a child. They still managed to be at the top of their game. A spouse that will support your loves is invaluable.<br /> <br />Maturing is not a bad thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-38761253042773869162010-02-19T21:19:58.070-07:002010-02-19T21:19:58.070-07:00My advice to me is my advice to you: bail on the c...My advice to me is my advice to you: bail on the career, it will never fill your void. Find something that fills your day with purpose. Go back to school, find a new career, become a camp counselor or a hiking guide, go to medical school, become a teacher, etc, etc, etc. Or write somewhere in an environment that isn't just about surviving. <br /><br />Bagging peaks and crazy adventures are sweetest when reflecting on them from a position where you life would still be full without them. Sucky jobs suck and filling your life with awesome around the edges of the suck hole doesn't cover the suck.<br /><br />Yes?The Chaserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10116874682901348318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-28220697853531638452010-02-19T17:24:32.273-07:002010-02-19T17:24:32.273-07:00Jill, I think everyone avoided talking about writi...Jill, I think everyone avoided talking about writing because you already are a writer. I just assume that you will always be writing. It's not a separate compartment, is it? I know you will always find a way to write, and in fact have been doing it a long time now! I think that's why no one called it out in response to you in this post. There's Being a Writer and writing. You are a writer. Simple.Julie in Alaskanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-38743880960199336972010-02-19T16:44:43.347-07:002010-02-19T16:44:43.347-07:00very complex photograph, beautiful tones, lighting...very complex photograph, beautiful tones, lighting and angles. Reminds me of a character out of Mad Max. No one is ever truly happyMarcLordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-89212191705441580652010-02-19T12:22:54.753-07:002010-02-19T12:22:54.753-07:00Jill, you've got skills. You've got drive,...Jill, you've got skills. You've got drive, curiosity, humility, beauty, talent, a loving family, many friends and thousands of loyal followers. You are good at prioritizing and balancing your career with your personal interests and accomplishing an impressive amount in each. You have placed yourself in one of earth's most beautiful places which has so much to offer to a trekker/biker/photographer/adventurer such as yourself. There is still much to do there but you HAVE done Juneau justice and earned the right to call it your home. You've managed to survive and excel in an industry that is shrinking in pain. In addition to your job and adventures you manage to write books and finish them! You have been honing your writing/journalism/photography/internet skills to position yourself for your dream gig(s). You're doing great!<br /><br />(Now for the stranger giving advice portion of this comment)<br />Being humble while having a strong drive is good. But maybe you need to be more proud and take greater satisfaction of your accomplishments and experiences.<br /><br />Having true love and building your own family is not an overrated concept. Those of us lucky enough to have that would not trade it for all the peaks in Nepal - especially if we had amazing adventures en route. If you're out there making a good go at life, keeping an open mind and brushing your teeth regularly then you're doing all that you can do to find true love. If you believe in your beauty and sensuality then you will be.<br /><br />There is truth that to give selflessly is one of the most rewarding things you can do. The trails are sweeter when you've done your part. People who live their life in a way that brings joy or kindness to everyone around them have a twinkle in their eye that you can't get otherwise.<br /><br />I suspect you will continue to find inspiration and intrigue with your current situation but you're also ripe for change. You are uniquely qualified to travel the world doing extreme races and to make a living publishing your accounts. Or you could keep a cabin just outside of Escalante and freelance to Outside magazine about dive trips in the Bay Islands and mountain bike treks in Patagonia. Dream big and go for it sooner rather than later because what's the worst that can happen if the situations don’t pan out?<br /><br />What the hell gives me the right to dispense advice to you like I know you? Your blog does by definition. And I do know everything that you have chosen to share about yourself in this journal your book which I know is NOT the same as knowing you in the real world but is quite a bit just the same. It’s enough to inspire me to rattle on way too long when you do one of your rare personal reach outs but since this is not the most recent post I'm thinking few people will have to endure it, perhaps even yourself.<br /><br />Good luck Jill of Juneau. I will be with you as long as you keep us along for the ride.<br /><br />jahAucillaSinkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02085072007329506260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-30469351891971564322010-02-19T09:04:22.738-07:002010-02-19T09:04:22.738-07:00I'm a little late to the party here, but it se...I'm a little late to the party here, but it seems to me that less than a year ago your whole life was turned upside down...not just a relationship, but how you defined yourself and everything that you envisioned for the future. That's a major kick in the gut for anyone and a person doesn't get over that and re-orient your whole life in a short time. Some things take time and have no shortcuts. I would suggest that you not make big decisions quickly right now. And as some others have alluded, I believe it takes a genuine relationship with your Creator (not just 'going to church') that gives you the real joy in life that lasts and carries you through. That's been my experience anyway. I want to see you succeed in life and find the satisfaction that you seek.Stannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-55719462433222056732010-02-19T09:00:25.293-07:002010-02-19T09:00:25.293-07:00I read your blog frequently, but that doesn't ...I read your blog frequently, but that doesn't qualify as me really knowing you. Since you asked for it, my advice from a distance would be lighten up and stop over-thinking things. You do tend to try to wring every bit of meaning from every event that you write about. Life is wherever you are, doing whatever it is that you are doing. You might also try to diversify your activities. Spending hours on end on a bike or hike may be fun and challenging, but it's a pretty narrow focus and limits your interaction with other people and other activities. Finally, as one writer above noted, you need to get laid. Works wonders for the mind and body! Enjoy and good luck.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-55704088951166975932010-02-19T07:08:49.614-07:002010-02-19T07:08:49.614-07:00If your new book is anywhere near as good as Ghost...If your new book is anywhere near as good as Ghost Trails, I think you could definetly find a publisher. If I were you I'd ditch the desk job and become a travel writer, like Joe Kurmaskie. He travels on his bicycle all over the place and makes his living writing about his adventures. What could be better than that! Hang in there, the answers will come to you.Jacquinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-59862957670666074022010-02-19T04:25:33.210-07:002010-02-19T04:25:33.210-07:00I was struck by the plethora of recent narcissisti...I was struck by the plethora of recent narcissistic self-portraits. Are you not happy because the universe is trying to tell you to let go of being absorbed with your own self? May you find your path to happiness!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-45269803494746650522010-02-19T00:58:13.467-07:002010-02-19T00:58:13.467-07:00Thanks for the comments everyone. Even the people ...Thanks for the comments everyone. Even the people who were needlessly rude. I feel like I post so little about my personal life on this blog, that I always get a kick out of the anons who seem to know me personally. <br /><br />I also find it interesting that no one mentioned anything about writing. A lot of my issues right now stem from this strong desire to be an "artist," which I have pushed on the backburner my entire adult life because it's not a practical way to live. But now I feel this desire more strongly than ever, and I have rebelled against its impracticality by living a fairly spartan lifestyle, as though I'm trying to prove to myself I can live on dirt so why should I be so focused on making a living?<br /><br />That, and I've been reading Thomas Wolfe again. "Where, Ben, where is the world? Nowhere, said Ben, you are your world."<br /><br />I'm not saying I'm going to quit my job and go live alone in the mountains and create art. I'm just shocked that, as much as I tried to fish for it, no one suggested it. :-)<br /><br />But I plan to delve more in depth later. I just wanted to respond.Jill Homerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02983065990450931943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-16918794231661679822010-02-19T00:12:28.287-07:002010-02-19T00:12:28.287-07:00Taking care of yourself isn't selfish. You hav...Taking care of yourself isn't selfish. You have to take care of yourself before you can focus on anyone or anything else. Keep your head and cadence up :-)dave34https://www.blogger.com/profile/13162960653607484480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-53238197032944596402010-02-18T23:53:04.815-07:002010-02-18T23:53:04.815-07:00The best way to feel good about yourself is to rea...The best way to feel good about yourself is to reach out and help others. You spend way too much time thinking about you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-82000231631201086742010-02-18T23:37:36.125-07:002010-02-18T23:37:36.125-07:00When I felt that way, about 18 years ago, it was t...When I felt that way, about 18 years ago, it was time to leave rural Alaska for a while. It was the right decision :-) Back in AK now.<br /><br />The commenter a few posts back was a touch rude, but I like his idea: some time spent in service. Maybe Haiti, maybe Peace Corps? Talk about a potential for a shift in perspective. <br /><br />(If you go, take your camera!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-75568045955776537572010-02-18T22:49:44.789-07:002010-02-18T22:49:44.789-07:00Freakin' bizarre... Just about a half hour ear...Freakin' bizarre... Just about a half hour earlier I posted the same Mark Twain quote - that another commenter above did - to my Facebook page, mostly because I've also been thinking about something missing in my life, and that some change has to be made (think it might be the job in my case, but possibly a move). Then, for the first time in like 2 or 3 months, I come visit your blog, where you express the same kind of thing I'm feeling, and someone posts the same quote I just had from Mark Twain. Coincidence, I know, but weird...Fonkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04504462046067745769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-9306081834110869882010-02-18T22:40:31.179-07:002010-02-18T22:40:31.179-07:00Humm, this is the ‘second time’ you publicly ‘aske...Humm, this is the ‘second time’ you publicly ‘asked’, I didn’t bother reading all the ‘comments’ this time, shur there are some good 7 not so good ones<br /><br />Anyway--same basic answer for here--- if you can spend some real time your family, “touch home”, what ever that is to you . Then go from thereAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-45294265000642725182010-02-18T22:11:27.014-07:002010-02-18T22:11:27.014-07:00You know... Utah has mountains too. And family :)
...You know... Utah has mountains too. And family :)<br /><br />I love you Jill. I want so much for you to be happy. I hope your mountain solace will assist you in making decisions that help you find it. You have so much talent and determination that inspire me. I'm sorry to hear you are having a rough time.<br /><br />I'm thinking about you and miss you!!Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05971829321577186599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-4805008039405857452010-02-18T19:57:38.067-07:002010-02-18T19:57:38.067-07:00"Twenty years from now you will be more disap..."Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark TwainAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-36206617570328440292010-02-18T19:39:14.888-07:002010-02-18T19:39:14.888-07:00Get out of your own head and self absorption, go t...Get out of your own head and self absorption, go to Haiti, see what suffering is really about, perhaps a focus on others will give you some insight and purpose.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-60482626174706728782010-02-18T19:14:33.881-07:002010-02-18T19:14:33.881-07:00Jill, a wonderfully honest post. I admire you for ...Jill, a wonderfully honest post. I admire you for writing it and sharing it. I thought Brian and Jon's comments were very apt. I've always wondered how satisfying it can be to be so focused on things like biking/racing/distance events when there is so much more of life to be lived. I always advocate finding a way to escape our own skin and serve others....and the comment on depression is also well worth considering (I have been known to be a sufferer. It saps the joy out of life!. Good luck, girl, in this quest. It is probably not what you are doing now but what you are not doing now that could help...And I don't mean big actions (new job, moving, new boyfriend) but instead, a new approach to life that establishes different goals because you have considered your true purpose in life. Yeah, we're all trying to figure that one out! Good luck, friend.Julie in AKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-23189535896729938132010-02-18T17:46:48.614-07:002010-02-18T17:46:48.614-07:00Funny, but I felt that way when I lived in Sitka. ...Funny, but I felt that way when I lived in Sitka. I missed two things: the sun and variety, a chance to step into a different environment if you felt like it: the desert, the canyons, the river. In Southeast it is all the same unless you hop a jet. No way to get away from the same climate.<br /><br />So I moved to Oregon. Life is good.<br /><br />http://mountainsskin. blogspot.comMaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11166776565191771729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-12128928910902996262010-02-18T17:09:07.868-07:002010-02-18T17:09:07.868-07:00Mountains and bikes are nice, but love trumps all....Mountains and bikes are nice, but love trumps all. Love gives mountains and bikes meaning.Ponderohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16042079750126434523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-17542848558453030882010-02-18T15:54:04.959-07:002010-02-18T15:54:04.959-07:00I'm convinced that happiness is a choice we ma...I'm convinced that happiness is a choice we make, not the result of the things we have or do. So why choose to be unhappy? <br /><br />I'm always happy. I insist on it!<br /><br />Happiness is a choice. Make it.Donnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18615538.post-60556267538447551772010-02-18T13:43:35.759-07:002010-02-18T13:43:35.759-07:00I've thought a lot about your post regarding t...I've thought a lot about your post regarding the discontent. I've been feeling that way, too, lately. On the exterior, everything is good: great partner, kids, job, and running is going well. Yet there's something missing and I can't put my finger on it. Its frustrating, in a way, but in a strange way I don't mind wading through it and letting whatever it is take its course. My guess is that the solution won't pop up anytime soon (if there is a solution). I just have the feeling that this is how life is sometimes. There's not necessarily anything to be done about it. It just makes us who we are.Trail Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01618609588615731030noreply@blogger.com