10 Lessons in 2 Years

2 years ago was one of the happiest days of our life. I checked Zillow, I squinted closely at the house on the screen, and realized it was the home of my childhood best friend. A place I’d been to many times until high school with 28 acres. It had only been listed for 30 minutes. My heart pounded as we moved swiftly to buy the property. We were the first to make an offer, the first to see it — and people piled up behind us with offers. It was a whirlwind day — the walk through was exactly how I remembered it. A beautiful old home up on a hill, beautiful fields below it. When I got the call that it was ours, I was at dinner with my sister. I immediately called Michael.. I’ll never forget how happy my usually stoic husband sounded. We happily cried together on the phone call. It was a dream come true for both of us. -Kristen

In honor of our 2 year anniversary, we want to share 10 things we’ve learned.

1. Life leads you down paths you’re meant to take. Doors open you’re meant to walk through. Be open to new opportunities and take the leap.

   Oppositely, closing doors and adversaries are meant to stop you, or slow you down to think things through. If you can see misfortunes as opportunities to realign and rethink, it’s still a positive.

   
   

2. Gratitude brings what you want (and what you have) closer to you. It makes you see the world through a lens of joy. It lets you cherish all the little things you experience day in and day out. Positivity attracts positivity.

3. Getting to work with, amongst, and for nature is a gift to be cherished. There’s much to learn from the working bees and the art of the natural landscape. It’s not something that can or should be controlled. Humans are a part of nature, and our duty is to benefit it - not hinder it, hurt it, or hold it back.

4. Dream big. Going for what you ultimately envision in the future will get you on the path you need to be on now. Envisioning is manifesting.

5. “Life by the yard is hard - by the inch it’s a cinch.” A farm is a never-ending to do list. If you see it as one massive beast, you’ll cower to fight it. Put out the biggest fires first, and try to do little things every day. My dad when I first got the property told me to just do the best you can. Some days your best is a lot of work, some days it’s small chores, some days it’s rest and reset. Rest is good work too.

6. Misfortunes are not personal slights. Sh*t happens. Sometimes nature wins. Sometimes things fail. Take the lesson and move forward.

7. You gotta start somewhere! Jump in and begin. You’ll learn by doing. The day we got the keys, my sister grabbed a seam of wallpaper and pulled it off the wall.. and that started the work that still continues today.

8. Lean on your friends and loved ones and community. Ask for help. Ask for guidance. Ask for advice. Ask for company. We can’t get through this life alone. Having someone in your life who loves you is worth everything.

9. Everything happens in perfect time. What’s meant to be yours will be when it’s right.

10. The best work is done with love at the heart of it. Our farm is built with love. Our home was made with love. We love what we do. We intend for love to be part of everything we do from here on.

- Kristen and Michael