It’s already Easter weekend and I can’t believe how quickly time is flowing along! Some people feel that Easter is all about new beginnings, and that could include new growth, continued growth, letting go, and moving on. I love the idea of applying this to life – to shedding our winter coats and the staleness of our life up until now and embracing simplicity, mindfulness, and living slowly. My close friend, Deaken Ehlers, and I have been talking a great deal about the state of our country and our world as of late and I have to say, it frightens me seeing the direction our society has taken. Since the beginning of the year, I have resolved to change the way I live my life. To slow down, appreciate the beauty that surrounds me, and get as far away from the rat race as possible. We live off grid now, powered only by solar and propane, in a quiet place with no amenities - no stores, gas stations, public services, which teaches us to be resilient and self-reliant, not to mention more self-sustaining. Even in this new life, however, it is easy to get stressed out with everything that needs to be done and the constant work that a homestead actually is. You learn to plan ahead and be prepared for whatever may come down the pipe, whether it means food preparation and storage, repairs and new builds, taking care of homestead animals, and preparing for emergencies and injuries. Living this way has changed my whole outlook on life and I find I have less time and patience for whatever is going on in “normal life” – I have no idea what new movies are playing, what the latest television shows are on the networks (we don’t have the networks, haha), or what the latest fashion trends are. At the end of the day, I sit and listen to the quiet and look out at the stars, pure and beautiful with no city noise or street lights. It’s a busy and difficult life, but I love it.
One thing that has come of this life that means a great deal to me is my change in attitude about what is important in life. Letting go of whatever is trending and what is “supposed” to be important to me means there is more space and time for what IS important to me. Living this way frees you, allows you to choose what is important to you, what matters, and focus on those people and things. To let go of societal conventions and be free to do what fills you with joy, excites you, thrills you, is a gift. To spend time on your passions and live life unencumbered by what the world says you “should” be doing is the most amazing experience I have ever had. I will never go back to the world and live life by standards that I didn’t create for myself.
Making these changes has meant more time for my writing, one of my biggest passions. I have set goals and now, after letting go and moving on from the world outside of my homestead, I have substantial growth in my writing. It’s what I love to do and growing more in my skills and creating work that I am passionate about is the most thrilling feeling. I don’t believe this ever would have happened if I hadn’t shifted my mindset and embraced slow living. Suddenly there is more time for my writing because I have released the things that aren’t important and begun to focus on what is. My writing is precious and I no longer allow other things to get in the way of my writing time every day. It is a release and a relief and I highly recommend stepping back, re-evaluating, and giving yourself permission to let go of things that hold you back and move forward, create growth, on the things that matter the most to you. You will feel joy. You will feel peace. And you will feel like you’re living a life worth living again.
Don’t wait. Start now.