Returning to abundance
I’ve never been able to walk in a straight line on life’s journey. Always curious with a diverse array of interests, I’ve pursued multiple careers and hobbies. To name a few: classical musician, plant ecologist, special education teacher, behavior analyst, butcher, construction surveyor, food service manager, outdoor educator, rock clBeBeofimber, back packer, language learner, gardener, cook, home brewer, knitter, needleworker, naturalist, stained glass artist… and many more.
My most recent incarnations have been a craft butcher at a local market, and an employee at a farm where I’ve filled many roles from farm market manager, social media coordinator, and butcher. The last couple of years involved major upheaval in my life, by choice. I chose to leave my job as a full-time butcher to move from Portland, Maine, to the mid-coast region of Maine. New job, new relationship, new home.
It’s been bumpy. Somehow along the way, while there have been many positives in my new life, I’ve lost touch with the side of myself that thrives on creativity, learning, the outdoors, and personal development. Before the move, I had started a small hobby business, selling a little handmade jewelry - the original “A Little Abundance”. As I’ve been trying to regain my creativity and sense of vitality, this concept of Abundance and the life well-lived has been knocking at my door, loudly, trying to get my attention again.
So here I am. Not sure quite how this will play out. I have several goals: to handcraft items that bring me (and hopefully others!) joy, to sell them as a way to become free of the rut of the conventional workweek that has exhausted my spirit for too long, and to investigate and pursue sources of joy and abundance in my personal life. The mission that frames those goals is simple: to live my best life. How I define my best life may change day-to-day but some key components in the here and now include:
Autonomy - managing my own time/energy/work/life
Creativity as a daily pursuit
Time spent in nature
Learning - skills, ideas, self
Connection - to self and to others
Security and good health
Return to focus on well-being including exercise, food, and mental health
Releasing fear and embracing joy
As per my usual, my journey forward from here is unlikely to be along a straight and well-traveled path. I hope to explore the unknown with courage and joy rather than fear and self-imposed limitations.