David Andrew Wiebe

Okotoks, AB

by David Andrew Wiebe | Mar 26, 2023 | Travel

The humble town of Okotoks has a population of around 29,000. It’s a suburb located to the south of Calgary, and if there was ever any doubt, it’s no longer a town in the middle of nowhere.

Its convenience, in fact, can’t be denied. From the very edge of south Calgary to the very edge of north Okotoks is only about six minutes on the highway. Yes, I timed it. My mom makes the commute almost daily.

The suburb is just as flat and open as Calgary if not more so, and slightly higher in elevation besides. If you’re used to mountains, you will not notice the hills unless you let yourself acclimate to the environment for a while.

Head westward on the 549, though, and you will soon be met with vast rolling hills leading into the Rockies. From Okotoks, you can get a good view of the mountains to the west as well as to the south towards Waterton.

Characteristic of southern Alberta, Okotoks can be very windy. But Waterton and surrounding area (Fort Macleod, Lethbridge, etc.) are far more prone to gusts of wind.

Like Calgary, Okotoks is sunny most of the time. Even when it’s cloudy, the clouds seem to pass over relatively quickly. That said, we are basically talking about mountain elevation, so snowstorms, hail, heavy fog, and more, are all par for the course. Winters in Okotoks can be very cold indeed, but summers can be very pleasant, and even hot.

I am most familiar with the southwestern end of Okotoks, but my favorite part is the northeastern end, as there is far more vegetation overall.

Food wise, Okotoks used to be reliable only for the occasional decent Italian, Indian, Japanese, pub, or pizza place. Today, there are far more options for bubble tea, Korean, Indian fusion, donairs, and more. When I discovered that, it made me feel like the town had come a long way.

Of course, you can still find all your standards – McDonald’s, A&W, KFC, Wendy’s, Tim Horton’s, Dairy Queen, Boston Pizza, and so on. The occasional hot dog or slice of pizza at Costco is not a total loss, either.

If you’re going to eat at a pub, though, The George Traditional House is the place to be, with a good mix of standard pub fair, fusion, and Indian dishes.

In terms of nightlife, Okotoks either doesn’t have one, or is mostly limited to small, tame gatherings at Boston Pizza or The George. Most places shut down early, especially on a weekday. Better head into Calgary if you’re looking for more of a heartbeat, but even there, your options will be limited.

No matter how you cut it, you will only be able to find certain creature comforts and conveniences in Calgary. That said, more is being added to Okotoks all the time.

Speaking of Calgary, though, the drive into the city from Okotoks is remarkable. I mean, it is flat and wide open – uncomfortably so – but the panoramic view of the city from the top of the hill on highway 2 is noteworthy, and it’s a thing of marvel at night, too.

While it may be another 10 to 20 years off, I don’t think it’s beyond the realm of possibility that the Calgary city limits will extend to swallow up Okotoks, especially if both cities continue growing at the rate they have been.

You’re Here to Heal

by David Andrew Wiebe | Mar 25, 2023 | Spirituality

In life, you will find yourself in places you never expected to find yourself – physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

Others may look in from the outside and feel entitled to criticize or make fun of you.

Sometimes you’re stuck because of your own constraints. That can happen.

But sometimes you’re stuck because God or the Universe needs you exactly where you are.

Why? To heal.

It seems preposterous that the Universe would want such a thing for you. It can seem so cruel sometimes.

But if you freefall into the embracing arms of the Universe, you may find that you are exactly where you need to be right now.

Hired Gun

by David Andrew Wiebe | Mar 24, 2023 | Inspiration

A few years ago, a friend said to me:

“If you’re working your ass off to earn $50,000 per year as an independent, why not go and get a job earning $50,000. You can earn that amount easy, and you won’t have to work your ass off.”

Just the other night, another friend called me a “hired gun” and shared his story around why that was an undesirable thing to be.

No perspective is invalid, even I can see that.

But I’m seeing something else. An acorn doesn’t just turn into a tree. Give it enough time, and it will turn into a forest, and then a jungle.

(There’s a term for that – it’s called depth of vision.)

You may not see the hard work that goes on beneath the surface of the pond, but trust me, that duck is swimming. HARD.

No Self-Awareness

by David Andrew Wiebe | Mar 23, 2023 | Personal Development

I show up every day to produce the best possible work I can.

I am aware that, at times, I am not doing my best work. I rarely think what I produce is total hogwash, but on my off days, I can see that what I’m creating is “great adjacent.”

As I gather feedback on what I think has the potential to change people’s lives, I’m seeing that it’s not quite doing what I hoped it would. At least, not yet.

I can accept that I’m still developing it. I haven’t published it in an official capacity. But it’s disappointing to see that it isn’t quite finding resonance yet.

And this is where I’ve landed on this:

I feel like others possess a superpower I don’t, which is self-awareness. Maybe there’s a separate term for what I’m thinking of – I’m not quite sure what it is right now – but I’m not just talking about the psychological definition of self-awareness, which is your actions, thoughts, and emotions relative to your own standards. I’m talking about how you show up in the world.

I feel like others are far more aware of how they’re showing up. Meanwhile, I don’t know if I’m coming across energetic or tired in a video until I’ve filmed myself and watched the footage.

I might need you to tell me when what I’m sharing is showing up as authentic or inauthentic. I honestly can’t tell. I might need you to tell me when my content sucks and when it doesn’t. I can’t tell.

And if there’s a secret to self-awareness, I would love to know. I have very little if any of it.