Month: June 2024

I do not remember a time when I was not responsible for chores on the farm when I was growing up. My first recollection was gathering eggs every night and morning. We sold them to the “egg man” and I received the change each week. If my mom got $6.36, I got 36 cents.

Children doing chores on the farm is a tradition rooted in agricultural communities worldwide. The sense of responsibility I have today came from doing chores. This “opportunity” not only instilled in me a work ethic but also a strong connection to the land and the animals. The life lessons extended beyond the farm.

I loved feeding the animals. I learned quickly they required feeding on a regular schedule. Failure to do so was not acceptable from the standpoint of the animals or for my dad! If I could not do my daily chores, I would have to negotiate with my parents or my sisters to make sure those chores got done. There was no not showing up to take care of the animals.

These chores helped to develop a sense of empathy and compassion for living beings. I learned about the cycles of birth and death as well as an understanding of the relationship between fragility and resiliency. Feeding orphaned lambs was a joy but so was the sadness when an animal died. I learned problem solving and adaptability.

My parents were profound teachers of the work ethic. Doing chores requires hard work, dedication, and responsibility. These principles enabled me to be successful in my career and underlined how to be an appreciated volunteer in my roles today.

Today I have a regular routine of chores in the morning and evening that take about 10 minutes within the confines of my house—feeding the kitties, cleaning the litter box, and giving out kitty meds. Watering plants is needed one day a week. It is nothing like farm chores but reminds me of my obligations to living beings.

Although I was sometimes resentful of the responsibility of doing chores every day on the farm, I look back with appreciation. Young people gain these skills in a variety of ways regardless of where they live, but I am glad that the farm enabled me to gain confidence in myself and my ability to persist in making a positive difference every day.

PS I will not post a blog next week as I am going on an adventure.

Over twenty years ago I was dining with a new friend. We shared bits of our lives including the activities that we enjoyed doing. She remarked to me, “You certainly are an adventurous person.” Until then I had not thought of myself as adventurous, but it did resonate with my lifestyle.

My sense of adventure involves curiosity, accepting uncertainty, and stepping gingerly out of my comfort zone. I have traveled the world and experienced sights and people that have enlightened me. As I get older, however, I am losing some of that sense of adventure and I am grappling with that recognition.

I continue to be curious about the world. On the other hand, I am feeling more content to experience life through other people’s adventures. I admire friends like Stephanie who is riding her bicycle across the US for the second time and Sandy who is touring around the world solo. I value new undertakings but question whether I must experience them first-hand any longer. Armchair travel has advantages.

Uncertainty has never held me back in the past if I had enough information about something. I have taken calculated risks without hesitation. Trying unusual foods or a new activity has not deterred me. Yet, I am finding that I am less flexible in adapting to change. Although advantages to caution, I may be missing unexpected and thrilling opportunities.

I continue to dream about traveling and especially experiencing the outdoors. I like events that go as planned and recognize that something becomes an adventure when unexpected challenges arise, large or small. For example, a year ago I was snowshoeing with a friend. It was a lovely day until I dropped my favorite water bottle, and it skittered down the hill. As I tried to get it back, I fell numerous times into tree wells and eventually had to crawl back to the trail. A minor escapade, I guess, but it made the walk an adventure.

I do not want to lose my sense of adventure. I want to continue to have an adventurous mindset as I age. I seek to maintain a positive attitude and convince myself that challenges are opportunities for growth and not obstacles. Whether I travel or not, I hope to continue to find excitement and adventure in everyday experiences.

I asked one of the seasonal rangers who was returning to Rocky Mountain National Park if she wanted to get a permanent job in a park. She said she was hoping that someday she would have more material possessions than would fit easily into her car. Furniture was associated with her desire to “settle down.”

I remember graduate student days of beanbag chairs and stereo speakers as my furnishings. I now value the furniture accumulated over the past 50 years.

Furniture is not just a collection of objects. It reflects memories and one’s personality. At this point, I have all the furniture that I want or need. Other than the functionality of a leather couch that my cats will not tear apart, the furniture in my house reflects happiness about growing up on my Iowa farm and the joy that natural wood gives me.

My possessions reflect my emotions. I have the rocking chair that once belonged to my grandmother as well as the one that my mom used when we were babies. My most prized piece of furniture is the cherry secretary (see photo) that I refinished for my mom as a 4-H project when I was 12 years old. It now graces my foyer and was the one item that I wanted to inherit more than anything else from my parents’ home.

I also have pieces of furniture made in Estes Park by a local woodworker. I purchased the first pieces when I still lived in North Carolina. I was looking for a change in my life and I had always loved that rustic look. Through a lucky interaction, I was able to get the furniture made and delivered to my NC home. Having the furniture in my living room and bedroom brought joy for the anticipation of someday living in the mountains. Over time I acquired more of this woodsy design.

My house is a hodge podge of furniture with antiques from my childhood and the log furniture. It suits my eclectic personality and I enjoy its warmth. I know I would not win any awards for interior design, but the coziness wraps me in happiness.