If you believe in the power of words, you can bring about physical changes in the universe.
–N. Scott Momaday
I have a little placard on my desk next to my computer that reads: “Chaos Coordinator.” And boy, does it feel particularly accurate lately. I like to think I’m prepared to handle most situations, but as life likes to show us, we’re not always right on top of it, especially this time of year.
Last week was one of the most unusual weeks this year, to say the least. It’s left me discombobulated in ways I’ve never experienced. Most days, I’m on the ball–I’ve worked for myself or remote for somewhere around two decades, so self-motivation is something I’m quite skilled in. But working through the fog, the restlessness, and the utter lack of focus is made harder by the frustration of not being able to tap into that natural motivation when everything around you just seems off.
So, I did what I do when I’ve got a lot of things on my mind and I need some clarity: I made a phone call to a close friend. She reminded me that everyone goes through times like this and even quoted words I’d previously said back to me. Sometimes, life is hard. It’s not always as easy as waking up and knowing exactly what you’re going to do. There are wrenches thrown into plans more often than not.
In that vein, I encourage you to think ahead, to “Bail-Out Bag Contents“, as much as you can be, even if it’s simply being ready to pick up and go in an emergency (“What to Take When Evacuating Your Home,”) or planning ahead for the holiday season (“Homemade Homestead Gifts,” “Hand-Crafted Light,” or “Deer Tallow for Skin Care.”)
At the same time, don’t forget about the importance of connection. During my recent chat with Michael Haun, who draws our Roodoodles, we discussed how important our connections are–to who we are and to the people around us. And this is the sentiment behind our new department: Back to Roots. In this introductory edition, Wren Everett shares how baking bread connected her to herself, her family, and her land, and I hope you love it as much as I do.
