As we continue our migration from WA state to the last best place, there have been a lot of ups and downs. We are challenged by the newness of it all, the change of pace, the list of todos, the lack of convenience, and right now the ridiculous heat. When you combine those challenges with the state of the economy and little things like the lack of indoor plumbing, motivation can sometimes be in short supply. All of this is compounded by the fact that we are beginners at pretty much everything we are doing. It is one thing to camp while nomading for a couple of months. It is entirely another to start with nothing but a shell (cabin). No electricity, no running water, no flushing toilet, and no bedroom. It is just you, your better half, and the acknowledgement that your entire world has changed.
To top it off, life in Montana is different. Most notably: the pace. Montana forces you to slow down and be intentional. Harbor Freight and Home Depot are a minimum 3 hour round trip and that is considered local. Even our mailbox is a 15 minute round trip. No more 7 minute trips for pizza and beer (that’s probably a good thing).
Through this new adventure I keep thinking about this video:
This is a professional horse trainer, training a horse and training an aspiring horse trainer, while holding her one year old on her hip. Yes, in Montana and on the east side of the divide where it gets to -40 in the winter. Talk about life balance with a side of badassery.
Life balance is essential but it requires an emphasis on doing, with less time spent with the Netflix seductress. That isn’t to say we shouldn’t rest, and it isn’t to say we shouldn’t enjoy a show. It is to say that there is a direct link between how much time is spent “killing time” or “doom scrolling”, trying to find those dopamine hits, and how much you do not invest in today. How much time you are not building. How much you do not aspire and you do not achieve. I challenge you to disable all notifications on your phone.
Every challenge we face will define us until the next challenge. That is life, and each challenge is an opportunity to be better. A better worker, a better provider, a better partner, a better boss, a better leader. It is up to us to determine if we will face that challenge by investing in our future and doing the hard work, or if we will let ourselves be distracted by the gadgets and conveniences that will never fulfill us. Remember: When you are not building for yours, you are building for theirs. More on that later.