The Campfire Trail: January 1 - DIY Homestead

January 1, 2023

Day 457 of the Adventure

Here we are, all of us stepping over the threshold of a new year. I woke early to the promise of a heavy fog this morning. There was a bit of fog but nothing like was hoping for. Still a mild morning for January 1 is very welcome. On another January 1st subject....... I've never been caught up New Years Resolution hype. From as near as I can tell, I honestly don't know anyone who has ever really been successful at it. If a change is to occur, it happens when its right. A good friend once told me that change won't happen until the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change. That's right, there's pain in both circumstances. I've experienced a couple of those significant "Pains" over the years. One was when I got so sick to death of the work week routine that I couldn't stand it anymore. The pain of breaking free of that was one of starting my own business and pushing it forward long enough to get it to the point of providing enough income to sustain us. That was a very painful two year process, but the pain of staying in the same place was far worse. Another one of those "Pains" came just a couple of years ago when the pain of continually spinning the plates of multiple businesses was wearing us down, but the thought of retirement just didn't fit into our vocabulary. While we enjoyed our "Recreational Property" business (resorts and rental cabins, campsites and so on) making the decision to sell some of it and slow the pace a little was a painful one.

I only bring all of this up because even though this is not a time of year when I'm personally thinking about change, I know a lot of people are. For those who pine for a homestead life, off-grid life or just a simple cabin in the woods life, this may be a good time to seriously begin to examine your "pain". Has it reached the point where the pain of remaining where you are is greater than the pain of making the change? That "change pain" can come in the form of fear, lack of resources, lack of confidence, lack of proper education and research........ laziness....... It can manifest in any number of things, possibly even excuses, that prevent you from stepping forward into your dream. Yes, I know...... I'm meddling now, but the truth is the truth. Making a change does not mean you're ready right now today to simply sell out to your dream and make the jump. It certainly could mean that today is where the decision happens and every day after becomes another step towards that point where you pull the trigger on your move. When I decided I was done with the "working every day at a job", I actually circled a future date on the calendar and said to myself, ready or not, this day will be the day. Every day up to my big day was a day for preparing for it. The one thing that the end of the year does offer to me is a place where I can look back to the beginning of the previous year. It's a time for reflection and measuring progress. That alone is typically enough to motivate me forward into the new year. Maybe for you, today is an opportunity to look backward a full year and forward a full year. Ask yourself, where is your pain....

Carry On

Adventure Quote: “It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform.” ― Roy T. Bennett

Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Highlander Grogg (Butterscotch/Rum flavors)

SNEAK PEEK of our Upcoming OFF-GRID project

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