shaunmdaniel

My wife and I have been watching Northern Exposure through Netflix. Right now we are on the final season and it has been inspiring to see the character of Joel Fleischman suddenly give up his life as doctor in Cicily to live in a tiny remote fishing village because it fulfills him! There is such a peace that you can see upon him, and I want that!

In any ways I have already begun downshifting, turning my focus inward and away from the rat race which would seem to define success as ever-increasing income, stock holdings, a bigger and bigger house, and an important job. I’m all for life-affirming and self-fulfilling work. I actually think we’re made to labor, do use our hands and minds well. But I don’t think we’re made to be used as cogs in a vast machine, working for someone else’s dream, pushed into economic exile from our homes, friends and families in search of the next job.

I see downshifting as a way of getting back to basics, reuniting with many of the important traditions that we seem now to have all but lost: community, sense of place, rootedness, connection to our food and resources, self-sufficiency, homegrown prosperity, etc.

I’m not a Luddite (why then would I be on 43 things?!), but I do believe that technology is a tool, that it should be used when to our true benefit (as in freeing us up to do more worthwhile things, like spending time with family) and discarded when not (when it rips us away from family and keeps us working the same or longer hours at lower wages).

I take comfort in knowing that there is an entire tradition and historical precedent for what I am seeking, and that there is an entire generation of people out there in the cities and hamlets that are seeking the same.

May we find it and may we find each other to provide support and encouragement. Though the road may be long, I don’t mind sauntering along it to get to my destination.

Having moved to Prineville about 2 months ago and working from home, I haven’t yet had a chance to meet many people. Also, being young and not too long out of college while living in a rural area don’t seem too common of a thing. Nonetheless, I’d like to meet some people who are roughly in my age demographic, who I can connect with and call new friends. Otherwise it gets kind of lonely!

I know that I thrive on encouragement, so it has felt good to be able to give as much back to others. In my job as a community organizer I have the opportunity to work closely with community members, many of whom lack the confidence to know their true potential to be leaders and influential actors in shaping their own lives and communities. But it is my fortunate duty to gently nudge and encourage them to realize that potential and to grow as individuals. It’s been great fun, and indeed humbling, to see that transformation taking place. It’s changed me, I’d say…