Some Dude And Some Dog

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”  That is what this five-year window is all about for me.  Five years to sharpen my ax, five years to figure out what I want out of the next 50 years, five years to secure my relationship with my kids before we all go out and live a life of free will.  This time has been invigorating, freeing, cathartic, liberating, and also has allowed me to get so dialed in on what the next chapter looks like, that it is perpetually more motivating by the day. 

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I spent the first year, dropping habits of old and creating patterns of new; getting used to a more modest home but being able to travel more; and helping the kids just get comfortable with the unknown.  I started drawing again.  When I was a kid, I wanted to be an architect, so I started there.  I had recently stayed in a tiny home, so I mapped out that place, made adjustments, thought how to make it off-grid. 

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The second year was about learning.  I took the off-grid idea and started working on prototypes that would become the basis for my patents.  Started learning more about hydrodynamic turbines, solar power, water harvesting, sustainability, and thinking if I could implement this, where would I go?  Started travelling to places to see if I liked the culture.  Ended up in Chattanooga.  Fell in love with the area.  The conservative stance of the state, the historical significance, the geology, topography, micro-climates, trails, waterfalls, all of it.  But the city was wonderful.  Downtown, you can eat off the sidewalks.  Art inserted into so many parts of town.  Wonderful restaurants.  Different districts, each with their own personalities.  The feeling of family. 

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The third year was digging deeper.  Putting what I’ve learned from my time in therapy onto paper; creating my book.  And I wrote a book for my daughter for her high school graduation- 180 one-page essays about the various stages of my life.  Creating websites for my future farm as well as my silly ass dog.  Going to more art museums, botanical gardens, Airbnb rentals on farms, camping often, painting often, concerts, weddings, visceral experience after visceral experience, just to get my creativity flowing. 

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Now heading into year four and I am so excited for what this year brings-the application of everything I’ve learned.  Buying land, completing my Permaculture Design Certification, I want to plant an orchard and build a deck for my future yurt, sell off some of the things I just won’t be taking with me, continue to remodel my current home for better market value, run my first 100 mile run in a number of years, continue working on a few other projects I can’t quite talk about yet.    

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All of this with intention of a better tomorrow.  That is what I have really learned from my time so far.  Yes, I could have found a local, familiar face to marry.  I could have simply continued on with my old life, but with a new Mrs. attached to my name.  But all I would be doing is creating a cycle that I already know fails.  Rather than giving into that instant gratification, I chose change.  Tony Robbins once said, “Change happens with the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.”  And while change is not easy, change is not fun, change is worth it.  Deferred gratification is worth it.  Sacrifice is worth it.  My book, this website, the e-newsletter is all about making sacrifice and finally starting to see it all pay dividends.  And for that I am excited.  And for that I am grateful.  This is my story about all of it.  And how my beloved, dog, Boulder plays a role. 

 

I hope you are entertained, inspired to make change if needed, but most importantly, I hope you enjoy.