Current Challenges
In the interest of sharing our journey of moving into the woods, living off-grid and without running water, and slow-growing the seeds of Empty Mountain as a mindfulness practice center, I think it’s important to share both the joys and the challenges.
Our current challenges, from my point of view anyway (cuz while there is some overlap, if you ask Mike what our challenges are at any given time they are likely to be a little different, ya know, cuz we are two different people and no two people are the same), are as follows: very soon I will stop receiving disability benefits, which I’ve been on for many years due to my nerve condition CRPS, which means the money we have coming in every month will be cut by one-third and I will also lose my health insurance; we just found out the logging operation that has been going strong all year right next to our property boundary with the National Forest will be a thing happening ongoingly for the next 2-years (which means the sawing & wood crunching & big truck ruckus that starts super early almost every weekday will not be ending anytime soon); and our little cabin made of wood is being very slowly & quietly consumed by carpenter ants. And, to be perfectly honest, while it feels a little vulnerable to share here in this post, I will also report that I’ve been feeling routinely crestfallen in my part-time job. Also: Mike’s been having a gruelling time designing and figuring out how to construct our next build: the sauna house.
Oh dear.
Whelp. There are, of course, a number of creative and practical solutions to help address and tend to each one of these challenges, some of which we will do. Additionally, each one is greatly assisted by our attitude and mental approach. And underpinning everything is the need to keep doing the following: rest; play; meditate; have a good sense of humor; cultivate joy; celebrate small wins & delight in simple things; stay close to good friends & good teachers (& good poets, too); and step back to widen the view once in a while.
Life is full of stuff like this, no matter where or how we live. No matter the kind of work we do, or how little or much money we have at our disposal. Challenges are part of, not separate from, life & living. It’s helpful to both make space to acknowledge and appreciate hardships, upsets, challenges &/or struggles and also have perspective. To feel into the difficulties we are presented with and also not be swept up and away by them. Both things. It isn’t easy. But for me personally, it is a crucial undertaking of the spirit-heart.
I’m not someone who thinks challenges & struggles are necessarily required for personal growth-work or spiritual maturation to take place, however, I do think it is often what it takes. In my own practice right now, I am making a little space to care well for myself in the midst of the challenges at hand. I am taking refuge in the trees and comfort in the birds. And I am reminding myself on the regular: take one small step at a time.
