It’s easy to get sucked into the idea that hard equals bad. As humans we’re hardwired to seek the path of least resistance. To find comfort. To turn around when the going gets tough.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. Having three young kids is hard (honestly much harder than I had imagined).
Living off-grid is hard. Being an hour away from civilization isn’t always the easiest. Market gardening at 8,000 feet is hard. So is harvesting, preserving, and cooking – all while working a full-time job and raising three rambunctious humans.
But when I really get honest with myself, none of these things are bad. In truth these hard things are the BEST part of my life.
Yes, keeping the deer out the dahlias or the figuring out what the chickens can eat takes time and effort. But I actually love this homestead life we’re building, even with all of its extra challenges.
So the next time you find yourself worrying about all the hard/bad things in your life, I hope you’ll take a pause. Are the hard things really bad? If, like me, you find they actually give your life meaning, then it’s time for a re-frame. Don’t let life pass you by as you bemoan the hard things. These are the goals, the people, the moments that actually give life value.
And, if by chance, the hard things in your life are bad. By all means, waste no time changing direction. Quite the job, go after that dream, make the change. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t turned bad into a chance to travel across the country in an old VW van. You never know what momentum will be built from a tiny step today.
