The Calm Before the Storm…

The calm before the storm…

Refers to the period of peace before a disturbance. That is this very time for all of us. The few weeks before the season starts. 

 I am writing this the day after a four-day staycation I spent hunting. Between my neighbors and my land, I have 150 acres to wander and much of this happens in the dark, in the quiet of the early morning before sunrise and in the hours as the sun sets. I am alone, just me and my thoughts. When I get to the spot I plan to hunt from, I sit and don’t move. I calm my breathing; I position myself for action and I wait and wait. It is a moment of absolute calm that, at any time, can switch to utter chaos. While that was never the case, I was ready for it. I had planned, I had visualized, and I was prepared. This very state of being nourishes my body, mind and spirit. 

Why am I sharing this? I have decided to use this as a model for the season to come. This will be my 36th season in an industry where we hurry up and then wait. We wait for the snow. We wait for the people. We wait by the mailbox for our new gear. However, it is not always like that. Sometimes we don’t give ourselves the space in which to prepare ourselves and by this, I don’t just mean the physical, I mean our minds and spirits. It goes without saying how busy our winters are. It is as if our entire lives are put on hold for six months. 

I am here to encourage every one of you to take some time in the next few weeks, before our feet hit the snow, to sit still, to be quiet, to rest, to plan and to just breathe. I truly believe that this will make a huge difference in your journey through another season. It will make you a better person to be around for your family, friends, and clients. It will make you give yourself some grace when the chaos really hits. It will assure you stay healthy and love every day you are out there. Remember, half the fun of an upcoming season is the feeling that you have come upon a ski season that is brand new, a winter that the world has never seen before, a season that is certain to do things that no other winter has done before. Take the time now to ensure you are ready to take in every magical moment of it.

-Dana Forbes, CEO