People often ask why I chose to make Whitefish home.
I grew up in Billings until my family moved to New Hampshire when I was thirteen. Seven years ago, I returned to Montana from Florida for a retreat in Helena to escape the summer heat. With a few extra days, I decided to explore Glacier National Park.
I reached out to a childhood friend I hadn’t spoken to in more than 30 years after seeing the stunning photos she shared of Whitefish.
She took me out on Whitefish Lake, and as we cruised across the water, snacking on a charcuterie board and sipping wine, I looked up at the mountains in awe. I still remember the feeling that caught me completely by surprise.
I was overcome with emotion. I looked at her and said, “I need to move here.”
She replied, “Come back in the winter.”
I laughed. “I don’t like the cold.”
She just smiled and said, “That’s exactly why you need to come.”
So I did.
I came back that winter for a month and discovered there was something so special about Whitefish regardless of the season.
Five years later, whether I am paddling on the lake or saying hi to Jesus before my first ski run of the day, this place still has a way of making me slow down and appreciate what’s around me.
Even now, I still find myself looking at the reflections on the water, noticing the flowers along the walking path, and pausing to take in the mountains. They haven’t faded into the background. They still stop me in my tracks.
Looking back, I smile when I think about that afternoon on Whitefish Lake. I had no idea how much my life was about to change. All I knew was that when I looked at those mountains, I was home.
Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements, and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media LLC (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations, businesses, or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability, or timeliness of any content submitted, inclusive of materials generated or composed through artificial intelligence (AI). All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party.
