Wow, today is April 21. The days fly by faster than I can type...no, really it'll be the 22nd soon...
As the time quickly flies by I feel myself resisting more and more. Resisting what? The fast pace of our generation, I think. As our peers move forward with the newest cell phone technology, and buying homes in urban areas, and "wishing the week would be over with already" (via many Facebook status messages), and having kids, and ...Mike and I seem to be moving backward just as quickly. I don't want time to fly by - I love my life and am not in a big hurry to get to the end of it. I want to enjoy my days and am doing my best to choose things to keep myself busy that I do love. Otherwise, my brain actually hurts and I get anxious and frustrated and a bit cranky. That's not fun.
We're only 25 - aren't we supposed to want more and do more? Maybe we're abnormal; maybe we're just doing what others wish they could do (ps - you can do it)? I don't know for sure. What are we running to? Simple, a less attached and dramatic way of life. We are not living much at all like we were in Colorado less than a year ago and let me tell you, we're so incredibly happy (not that we weren't then, but we felt inside ourselves we needed something different). We never could have told you this is where we'd be.
We live in a beautiful rural area - Rappahannock County, Virginia. Spring has sprung - the leaves are lime green and purple, the birds chirp constantly, we have rolling hills and sunshine. Most days, I kid you not, I walk outside and take a deep breathe and smile...I am so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the World. And I'm so happy and grateful we are here and not in a city. Luckily, DC has not sprawled quite this far and man, I really pray that it doesn't.
We're finding more and more just how important it is to our community and ourselves to buy fresh, local foods. Our society has gotten so disconnected from where our food comes from. We're so looking forward to the farmer's markets for our fresh fruits and vegetables from our neighbors. Our meats will be coming from local farms as well - specifically from Mike's new employer, Mount Vernon Farm (http://http://www.mountvernonfarm.net/) and we also just bought a cow share to provide us with fresh (NOT pasteurized) milk (YUM!). Pesticide, chemical, vaccine-free - Fresh and Simple and Healthy.
We have debt, and the only way to change it is to be honest about it. That sucks, of course, and we'll get it paid off someday (sooner rather than later is the plan). We don't have the income we did a year ago - far from it, in-fact, but we're working through it. We're cutting back and finding that it's not that bad, ya know? We cut back the cable (did we really need all of those channels??), Mike sold his truck and bought an old Ford paid in cash (insurance is only $11/month!), we work off our living space, watch the thermostat, cut coupons, eat out less, etc, etc. You'd be surprised what can be done. We even cancelled our cell phone - yep, it's true. For one, we don't get much coverage out here and it's been really nice not being so attached to it! We did get a prepaid phone for safety's sake when we're out in society...but it's only good if we remember to bring it.... :)
Some months - with being self-employed - I wonder how I'll pay this bill or that bill but then I sit back and take a deep breath and say, "It'll be OK". If I do panic, Mike is there behind me saying it for me. And you know what, for reasons I cannot explain...it HAS been OK each month. So the next step, is to be more than OK each month and not even worry at all - that'll come.
In honor of Earth Day: for kicks check out these websites and consider what a beautiful planet we live on:
http://www.thestoryofstuff.com/
www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/earth_hour_2009.html
http://www.artwolfe.com/ (I did a photography workshop with Art a few years ago. His images are just a reminder as to how beautiful our Earth is)
http://www.flavormags.com/ (I photographed for Flavor for their current issue. They're a local magazine with wonderful intentions to move forward with Buy Fresh, Buy Local (http://www.pecva.org/anx/index.cfm/1,329,0,0,html/Buy-Fresh-Buy-Local)
It's amazing how quickly we've felt so comfortable and feel like we're home here. We're learning more about ourselves as a couple and as individuals. We've met a great community and are happy to be here. We're simplifying and loving every minute of it.
Do what you love. Love what you do..........
...........Working on it. :)
XO, Molly
I'll make an effort to post more often, and perhaps we can get Mike to post about his new job, too.....
As the time quickly flies by I feel myself resisting more and more. Resisting what? The fast pace of our generation, I think. As our peers move forward with the newest cell phone technology, and buying homes in urban areas, and "wishing the week would be over with already" (via many Facebook status messages), and having kids, and ...Mike and I seem to be moving backward just as quickly. I don't want time to fly by - I love my life and am not in a big hurry to get to the end of it. I want to enjoy my days and am doing my best to choose things to keep myself busy that I do love. Otherwise, my brain actually hurts and I get anxious and frustrated and a bit cranky. That's not fun.
We're only 25 - aren't we supposed to want more and do more? Maybe we're abnormal; maybe we're just doing what others wish they could do (ps - you can do it)? I don't know for sure. What are we running to? Simple, a less attached and dramatic way of life. We are not living much at all like we were in Colorado less than a year ago and let me tell you, we're so incredibly happy (not that we weren't then, but we felt inside ourselves we needed something different). We never could have told you this is where we'd be.
We live in a beautiful rural area - Rappahannock County, Virginia. Spring has sprung - the leaves are lime green and purple, the birds chirp constantly, we have rolling hills and sunshine. Most days, I kid you not, I walk outside and take a deep breathe and smile...I am so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the World. And I'm so happy and grateful we are here and not in a city. Luckily, DC has not sprawled quite this far and man, I really pray that it doesn't.
We're finding more and more just how important it is to our community and ourselves to buy fresh, local foods. Our society has gotten so disconnected from where our food comes from. We're so looking forward to the farmer's markets for our fresh fruits and vegetables from our neighbors. Our meats will be coming from local farms as well - specifically from Mike's new employer, Mount Vernon Farm (http://http://www.mountvernonfarm.net/) and we also just bought a cow share to provide us with fresh (NOT pasteurized) milk (YUM!). Pesticide, chemical, vaccine-free - Fresh and Simple and Healthy.
We have debt, and the only way to change it is to be honest about it. That sucks, of course, and we'll get it paid off someday (sooner rather than later is the plan). We don't have the income we did a year ago - far from it, in-fact, but we're working through it. We're cutting back and finding that it's not that bad, ya know? We cut back the cable (did we really need all of those channels??), Mike sold his truck and bought an old Ford paid in cash (insurance is only $11/month!), we work off our living space, watch the thermostat, cut coupons, eat out less, etc, etc. You'd be surprised what can be done. We even cancelled our cell phone - yep, it's true. For one, we don't get much coverage out here and it's been really nice not being so attached to it! We did get a prepaid phone for safety's sake when we're out in society...but it's only good if we remember to bring it.... :)
Some months - with being self-employed - I wonder how I'll pay this bill or that bill but then I sit back and take a deep breath and say, "It'll be OK". If I do panic, Mike is there behind me saying it for me. And you know what, for reasons I cannot explain...it HAS been OK each month. So the next step, is to be more than OK each month and not even worry at all - that'll come.
In honor of Earth Day: for kicks check out these websites and consider what a beautiful planet we live on:
http://www.thestoryofstuff.com/
www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/earth_hour_2009.html
http://www.artwolfe.com/ (I did a photography workshop with Art a few years ago. His images are just a reminder as to how beautiful our Earth is)
http://www.flavormags.com/ (I photographed for Flavor for their current issue. They're a local magazine with wonderful intentions to move forward with Buy Fresh, Buy Local (http://www.pecva.org/anx/index.cfm/1,329,0,0,html/Buy-Fresh-Buy-Local)
It's amazing how quickly we've felt so comfortable and feel like we're home here. We're learning more about ourselves as a couple and as individuals. We've met a great community and are happy to be here. We're simplifying and loving every minute of it.
Do what you love. Love what you do..........
...........Working on it. :)
XO, Molly
I'll make an effort to post more often, and perhaps we can get Mike to post about his new job, too.....
we left when momma came back...we're grateful for the quick view of her little ones...
1 comment:
Thanks for the refreshing words of encouragement!
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