Four years ago, I unexpectedly found myself in a place of utter contentment. I was driving around a campground in Alaska. The sun was out and it was warm, sunny Thursday.
I was meditating on the idea of “chop wood and carry water” as I was slinging trash, scrubbing pit toilets, and updating reservation cards in the 91 site campground.
My thought was, “Gosh, I could be in a bad mood about this work that is neither glamorous nor fun. People could be judging me for doing a job that’s ‘beneath’ my skills and talents. Instead, I feel very happy. Peaceful. Calm. Meditative, even. ‘Chop wood and carry water.’ That’s all I am doing right here in this moment.”
As soon as I completed that train of thought, about 10 feet above me, I watched a gorgeous bald eagle soar overhead.
I found myself in the middle of this moment of profound connection and feeling more content than I could ever remember being in my life.
The year before, my hubs and I, in act of self-preservation, sold everything we owned, closed our businesses (mostly), and hit the road to work while traveling full-time. We took a job that paid well – I hated it; hubs enjoyed it. But it required two people.
After leaving that job, we tried campground hosting. At first it was awful. As excited as we were to spend the summer in Alaska, the campground was HUGE. The duties were way more than described in the ad. And it took us time to figure things out.
But/and…these moments of contentment kept sneaking up on me.
Living in the middle of the forest on the Kenai Peninsula with no internet or cell service, no electricity, and no real hookups for our motorhome invited us to get extra creative.
After a few weeks, we settled into a routine, and happily made friends with some of the regular campers from Anchorage. Each day, I’d drive Nelson to his job in Moose Pass (population 315, including us). From there, I’d either go back to the campground for specific chores or I’d motor 30 miles down the road to Seward to work at a specific coffee shop that tolerated me perching in a corner, using their WiFi for several hours and buying breakfast, lunch, and coffee while I sat there working. Other days, I’d sit in the car in the one place in Moose Pass where I could get exceptional cell service to do coaching calls with my small handful of remaining clients.
But/and these moments of profound contentment kept sneaking up on me.
There was a pond I’d stop at on the way to Seward…in the Spring, the moose mama had twins and they liked to wade into the pond to eat the vegetation. Just as you could see cruise ships in Seward, look left – there was a HUGE eagle nest and three babies!
I spent the summer watching them all grow.
These moments of profound contentment kept sneaking up on me.
The energy of Alaska is frantic from early May through mid-September. Lots of light and lots of tourists mean everyone hustles to make money while they can. Even the plants get busy budding and blooming and leafing out before giving up in exhaustion mid-September as hints of winter come rushing back.
I learned A LOT about myself during my summer in there. My connection with Nature, the magic of connection to Her, and the mystery and magic of connection to myself profoundly deepened.
Those moments of contentment showed me that I didn’t have to EARN my worth. It didn’t matter that I was making 2/3 less money than before. It didn’t matter that I wore the same green sweatshirt and blue jeans for a week (or more) at at time. It didn’t matter that I was emptying 20+ trash cans or scrubbing 19 pit toilets or cleaning out 90+ firepits every week. What mattered was the trees, the birds, the water, and my body were all connected. And in that connection, I found the deepest contentment.
Everything else…
I learned it’s just details.
Warmly,
Angie
PS: Ready to experience a little contentment of your own? Join me May 13 – 15th at Earthshine Lodge in the mountains of North Carolina for a Mind and Body Wellness Retreat. We’ll be forest bathing, doing yoga, learning about food, enjoying REAL conversation around the campfire. All in a Lodge that is just too amazing for words. Join me? Bring friends!!!