A few weeks ago, I found myself feeling strange.
I felt unsettled… unsure.. and maybe even a little… bored?
It’s a foreign feeling for me. So when it hit, I was caught off guard.
It’s not that I don’t have anything to do… I’m gearing up for THE book launch, the charter school recently opened, and of course, there’s plenty of work in the garden.
Yet, I was feeling a suspicious absence of challenge.
I’ve crossed off some big goals this summer and scaled several mountains I set off to cross early this year.
That’s all wonderful.
But it’s left me asking the question… “Now what?”
It’s funny how often we wait to “arrive”
We assume if we can just get through this thing… master this skill.. achieve this result… then everything will feel complete.
And sure, sometimes it does. Big accomplishments are certainly worth celebrating.
But… over the years, I’ve realized I’m the happiest when I’m in the thick of a challenge.
And I’m not the only one.
There’s strong evidence that we humans are wired for exactly that.
We need meaningful struggle to feel most alive.
While seasons of rest and celebrating wins are very important, we can’t live in those spaces all the time.
So lately I’ve been asking myself…
“What’s my next big challenge?”
“What thing scares me the most?”
“What have I told myself isn’t possible?”
I have some ideas:
- I want to master hard cheeses. I’ve played with them quite a bit and had some success, but there are many variables I still don’t understand. (This will likely be a spring project.)\
- I want to seriously up-level our homestead’s soil health and pasture management. Permaculture has intrigued me for years, but I’ve continually put it on the back burner. I’m ready to go deeper.
- I want feel confident enough in my skills to rope at our branding next spring. I’ve had this goal for 2 years but keep chickening out. It’s time.
- I have a few other ideas I’m not ready to share publicly yet. 🙂
While I’m still ruminating, even the process of exploring these ideas has caused my unsettledness to disappear.
I’m 38 years old, and finally leaning into the fact that chasing challenge is a part of who I am, not just a silly stage. And it feels really good.
I think so many people feel these same tugs but try to appease them with other things— consuming, screens, tech, mindless pleasure…
Yet what they really need is an adventure to draw them into the next version of themselves.
That’s when we’re the most content, fulfilled, and happy.
So friend, what’s the next challenge you’ll tackle?
Onward and forward,
-Jill
Amen! Well, life moves on! I will be 70 on Sunday, and the list of goals and plans I have never seemed to stop. I have always felt if you stop dreaming and planning, you might as well stop living. My wonderful father died much too young of heart disease. When I went through his drawer, I discovered his notebooks, filled to the edges with ideas for things to make, things to grow, and ideas for inventions. So dream big, and plan well! Always have a few goals on the back burner! My goal for next year is a “pick your own” herb garden! I see how women like the “pick your own” flowers, but my mind went to herbs! Blessings on your goals and plans!
This is the most inspiring comment!! I’m approaching 60 and feel like it’s almost too late ~ but you’ve just challenged me to see my glass as a little more full than not and I thank you for that!
I live in the city, so I’m always struggling to scale blogs/conversations to small scale gardens!!
I’m looking into at pyo hydroponic strawberry Garden as 1 of my challenges.
My fiance says my brain never stops still with thoughts and ideas!!
I’m building my own wooden lean-to 6×4 greenhouse and I’m no carpenter either!!
I’m joining you Jill for your 5 day course as well….
Thanks for helping to inspire me to not stop..
well said, insightful wisdom
I love this Jill! I feel the same way ~ seems I thrive in the thick of things, but I also long for “down time”, although I seem to fritter it away when I have it!
I think making a list of goals is so helpful and makes you really stop and think, and look forward to accomplishing new things.
Cheering you on!
Holly
Wonderful dreams and worthwhile challenges. Just be sure that every day includes at least 15 minutes of quiet gratitude/meditation.
Teacher here, newly retired and these thoughts hit the spot for me. Thanks!
Very well said Jill. I just turned 62 and most days I don’t feel that age. My list of dreams and goals are contantly in motion. I now live in a ‘city’, 2 years now but I am back out west, Montana and that does not change my dreaming or homesteading goals. We do what we can, all the while dreaming and setting goals. We have been working on garden beds, establishing them to grow all/most of our produce/fruit. Once that is done, there’s a greenhouse in the planning. Just like you, I need to be busy with plans. I do rest but I am happiest when we are working on our goals/plans. You have always been an inspiration. Thank you for sharing.
I’m just shy of 70. I am not content unless I have a project. I feel the rush to accomplish what I can with my little plot of paradise while I still have the strength to do so. During the past few years, I’ve decreased my garden foot print, essentially dividing it in half. We’ve built a deep raised hugelkulture/lasagna bed, a Wood’s Open Air coop, and cattle panel green house on the North half. South half currently has 12 raised beds. My new goal is to re-design the South half, decreasing number of raised beds to provide improved paths/and paddock space to allow flock rotation through the garden.