The problem with the "plateau"
Share
Jeff Lund
@alaskalund
The problem with the plateau or streak of bad luck or poor results isn’t just the outcome, but that we can wrongly conclude that we aren’t worthy, or good enough. It can be a huge hit to the self-esteem when we can’t make the lift, do the trick, get the job or even be noticed at work.
I harvest my first buck of the season in August and for the next month, the only meat I consumed was organic, free-range venison. With three more tags, I could have stocked the freezer for the good part of a year! I was stoked. Then I stopped seeing bucks. September became November in a hurry and the season ended. I camped, I hiked, I called, I sat, I did everything that I had done before, what people had recommended, and what I’d read. Still, no luck. A dozen nights spent in the woods and double that in day hunts yielded me nothing but frustration.
People lose – professional sports teams, Olympians, Abraham Lincoln – but the thing about losing at hunting is that I can’t help but imagine if I lived when Natural Selection was still going strong, I would have starved. My inability to adapt and survive would have left me starving. Pioneer Jeffrey of 1871 would have returned to the wagon after hunting for food to find my girlfriend gone, to be with someone who could actually provide for her on the Great Plains or who had a chance to make it to California. Actually no, she’s loyal enough to stay by my side and starve with me, which would be worse.
Anyway, my back luck with hunting spilled over into steelhead fishing, so I have now gone over four months without catching a fish. Add that in with the hunting futility and you’ve got one bad Alaskan.
It’s hard not to take it a little personal because something I’m doing is wrong, otherwise I’d be having success. That’s how things work, right? Do things right, get success, at least at some point.
Why can’t I win?
Life is spinning wheels sometimes. I’ve had tough months at school when it didn’t seem like anything I was doing was right and that I was having no impact on my students. I wanted to better my life in some way and was met with total resistance. There have been times when tragedy hit the family and I waited for the dark cloud to pass. Despair is temporary and just because depression is real and dangerous and anyone can have it, doesn’t mean everyone does have it.
If I were to make a comprehensive list, a timeline of all the times I have been wronged, I would have a strong case for deserving a steelhead. Then what? Now that I have my list of grievances against the Universe, God, whoever, would it make me feel better? Probably not, because no one really cares and it wouldn’t help at all. In an age in which we attempt to out-victimize each other, we dig deeper levels of misery so that we can win…at being miserable, proving to our friends or social media that things, indeed, are worse for us.
It is complete nonsense, worse than a waste of time because energy is being used for something that isn’t just unproductive, it’s positively destructive.
What people care about are stories of people who did things, who persevered. Who didn’t succumb to a plateau, dry spell or rough patch. We want to be like that. We want courage, we want resilience. We want to remind ourselves that in the scheme of things, it’s just a fish, just a PR, just a skateboard trick, just a playoff loss.
Why do I need the steelhead anyway, right? Is it to show off? To validate myself on social media? If that’s the goal, not to feel good, but to feel validated, that’s relying on a flimsy, fickle and, in most cases, indifferent population to get self-worth.
No one wants to learn lessons because they are learned during times of misery. However, we do all want the benefits, so we better pay attention.
Read more from Jeff at TheMediocreAlaskan.com
15 comments
https://darasilalbabagha.com — authentic, ethically
raised parrots for the Gulf and Arab world.
https://fluessiggastanks.com
https://Papageienparadies.com — Wo Fürsorge vor Kommerz steht
wng und lebenslange Unterstützung.erden Papageien für ein
echtes Familienleben vorbereitet – nicht für schnellen
Weiterverkauf. Ob bei uns gezüchtet, verantwortungsvoll
gerettet oder aus Vorbesitz übernommen: Jeder Vogel
erhält häusliche Sozialisierung, vollständige
tierärztliche Untersuchungen, Verhaltensbegleitu
Bei https://papageienparadies.com/product/alle-ara-papageien-jetzt-verfugbar/
Wir nehmen uns die Zeit, die andere nicht investieren.
Jeder Papagei bleibt bei uns, bis Gesundheit, Verhalten und
Bindungsbereitschaft stimmen – denn Vertrauen, Wohlbefinden
und Integrität sind wichtiger als Geschwindigkeit.
Wir sind zuerst Betreuer, nicht Händler.
Unsere Preise stehen für Fairness, nicht für Profit.
Wählen Sie echte Fürsorge, bewährte Verantwortung und
sichere Lieferung in ganz Europa.
Choisissez https://MotorGlobus.com
pour le luxe, la fiabilité et la valeur à l’exportation —
votre voyage vers une conduite de classe mondiale commence ici.
https://gunnersmart.com – Where Owning a gun is a smart life Choice
https://gunnersmart.com/gun-ownership
Buy registered and unregistered hand guns now
https://gunnersmart.com/product-category/pistols/
https://ketamight.com – Unleash the might Within
Einradwerk.com
https://Pudelwelpenshop.de
https://Papageienparadies.com
https://kittenspalast.com/blog/ – Wo perfekte Liebe Dein
Zuhause in einen königlichen Palast verwandelt.
Trusted Certification. Seamless Access. One Powerful Institute.
We speak your success into existence.
https://compradocumentilegali.com/
Visite nuestro sitio web y contáctenos solo a través de
la información proporcionada.
BUY EXAM FRhttps://shihtzulieblinge.com
Suchen Sie nach Familienzüchtern von Shih Tzu Welpen
mit Stammbaum in Europa? Ihre Suche endet hier. Eine
engagierte Gruppe von Familien – getragen von Leidenschaft
und jahrelanger Erfahrung – zieht reinrassige Shih Tzus mit
Fürsorge, Gesundheit und Tradition auf.
https://shihtzulieblinge.com/verfugbare-welpen/
Unsere Welpen sind vorab geliebt, gut sozialisiert und mit einer
2-jährigen Gesundheitsgarantie abgesichert – für Ihr beruhigtes
Gewissen und einen treuen Begleiter fürs Leben.
hElite Teacup Shih Tzu Welpen in Deutschland adoptieren
Imperial Shih Tzu Welpen Deutschland
https://shihtzulieblinge.com/product-category/standard-shih-tzu/
Imperial Shih Tzus in der Schweiz adoptieren
Teacup Shih Tzu Welpen Adoption in Europa
https://shihtzulieblinge.com/product-category/imperial-shih-tzu/
Shih Tzu Welpen mit Lieferung in ganz Europa kaufen
https://shihtzulieblinge.com/product-category/teacup-shih-tzu/
Shih Tzu Welpen in Österreich
https://taktikwaffen.com
https://autoteilemeister.com
https://einradwerk.com
https://ragsiamglanz.com
https://CompraCertificatiLingua.com – Your Trusted Source
for European Language Certificates
We’re not just another provider—we’re a recognized, well-connected institution
with verified governmental and institutional access to issue authentic language
certificates for relocation, study, and employment.
https://compracertificatilingua.com/about/
With a registered address
and official presence, we operate legally,
discreetly, and efficiently across borders.
Relocating to Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Portugal, Malta, or
beyond? We’re your 100% guaranteed, exam-free solution to overcome
the language barrier—no delays, no stress.
Struggling with language exams or proof of fluency?
Don’t waste time elsewhere. Choose certainty—choose us.
Legit. Fast. Seamless.
Government-Recognized Certificates
Backed by Real Institutional Access
Visit https://compracertificatilingua.com/
EE EUROPEAN LANGUAGE CERTIFICATES ONLINE
Obtenez un certificat TCF IRN sans examen
Achetez un certificat DELF B1 pour la nationalité française
Who We Help at https://ZertifikatDirektKaufen.com
Our clients include:https://nordokuments.com/
Students applying to German, Austrian, and Swiss universities
Skilled workers and job-seekers across the EU
Families applying for reunification visas
Migrants needing verified language credentials for integration
Travelers and expats requiring proof of language skills for long-term stay
Comprar certificado de língua portuguesa online
Buy English language certificate for Malta
Купете сертификат за български език онлайн
Αγοράστε πιστοποιητικό γλωσσών για την ελληνική ιθαγένεια
Comprar certificado de idioma español en línea
Acquistare certificato di lingua italiana online
Deutsch-Sprachzertifikat online kaufen
Buy Authentic Goethe C1 language certificate for career relocation
Obtain your authentic telc German B2 / C1 Beruf
Goethe certificate B2 / C1
telc German B1–B2 Nursing
Möchten Sie einen Anwalt beauftragen, um Ihre
Dokumentenangelegenheiten ohne persönliche
Anwesenheit vor Gericht oder bei Behörden zu klären?
Wir sind eine der führenden Kanzleien Europas,
spezialisiert auf die Lösung sämtlicher Dokumentenhürden –
einschließlich Führerschein & MPU
( https://dokumentekanzlei.de/mpu-hilfe/ ).
Wir interpretieren, überarbeiten und
erstellen alle Arten von Verträgen.
https://dokumentekanzlei.de/ein-leitfaden-von-dokumentekanzlei-de/
Hagen Sie rechtliche Probleme mit Dokumenten?
Auch bei Anfechtung von Rücknahmen oder Sperrvermerken auf offiziellen
Dokumenten stehen wir Ihnen zur Seite.
https://dokumentekanzlei.de
https://PermisPasseport.com – Documents officiels discrets
Achetez votre permis de conduire, carte d’identité ou passeport
en France, Belgique, Suisse, Luxembourg et Monaco — rapide,
sécurisé et confidentiel.
Sans stress. Sans paperasse. Juste des documents authentiques
et vérifiés, livrés directement entre vos mains.
Who We Help at https://ZertifikatDirektKaufen.com
Our clients include:https://nordokuments.com/
Students applying to German, Austrian, and Swiss universities
Skilled workers and job-seekers across the EU
Families applying for reunification visas
Migrants needing verified language credentials for integration
Travelers and expats requiring proof of language skills for long-term stay
Über uns – https://BanknotenKartell.com
https://BanknoteCartel.com
Was wir anbieten:
Nicht nachweisbare, hochwertige Banknoten mit
fortschrittlichen Sicherheitsmerkmalen
Premium-Klonkarten für reibungslose Transaktionen
Zuverlässiger und diskreter Versand in ganz Europa
https://BanknotenKartell.com – Ihre Nr. 1 Quelle
für sichere, authentische Währungslösungen in Europa.
Kontaktieren Sie uns noch heute für exklusive Angebote!
https://fuhrerscheinlegitimkaufen.de/registrierte-eu-fuhrerscheine/
– Kaufen Sie den deutschen
Führerschein, alle Kategorien,
nur registrierte Führerscheine, exklusiv bei
https://fuhrerscheinlegitimkaufen.de
https://fuhrerscheinlegitimkaufen.de/eu-fuhrerschein/
https://GlobalCargoArks.com
Buy new & used shipping containers – durable, sustainable,
and ready for delivery.
Order Mobile EV Homes, luxury living containers, and secure storage solutions
with global shipping direct to your location.Buy. Ship. Deliver. All in one place
Competitive pricing, transparent deals, and fast dispatch—.
https://globalcargoarks.com/product-category/container-homes/
https://greenpromeds.com
https://ChimieSoulagement.fr – La Chimie du Soulagement Premium
Votre référence en France pour des produits de bien-être purs
et testés en laboratoire — des stimulants et antidépresseurs à
la cocaïne, héroïne et substances de recherche.
www.ChimieSoulagement.fr
Profitez d’un service discret, d’une livraison rapide et d’une
qualité fiable à chaque commande.
Pureté. Puissance. Tranquillité d’esprit.
https://chimiesoulagement.fr/sirop-contre-la-toux/ –
là où la chimie rencontre le bien-être.
store https://kyusaikagaku.com
feel the chemistry, live the relief
https://kyusaikagaku.com/product/2-fluoroamphetamine-for-sale/
Buy methamphetamine/crystal meth with 95% purity in Korea
東京で高品質グレードA+の研究用化学物質を購入