Happiness manifests in a myriad of forms, so much so that one can indeed categorize its various types. These include joy, pleasure, gratitude, contentment, amusement, pride, and optimism, among others. The expansive nature of happiness allows for a diverse range of experiences and emotions that enrich our lives.
Joy
Engaging in activities like constructing an animal shelter, rearranging my living space, or completing a book fills me with a rush of endorphins that brings a sense of fulfillment. This fleeting happiness, however, doesn’t tend to linger. Once I savor that moment of satisfaction, I find myself eager to embark on the next project, perpetuating the cycle of seeking joy through new endeavors.
Pride
Witnessing my children’s growth brings me immense joy. Their milestones, like taking their first steps or riding a bike independently, fill me with pride. As they mature, seeing their faces glow with excitement while learning to drive is truly heartwarming. Each little achievement they celebrate adds to my own happiness, creating a shared joy in our experiences. What delights them inevitably brings joy to my heart.
Gratitude
A profound sense of gratitude brings me immense joy. As an independent woman, I often strive to achieve many things on my own, driven mostly by my own stubbornness. Being petite, at under five feet tall, has instilled in me a bit of a complex, leading me to attempt tasks beyond my physical abilities. Nevertheless, I persist. When I find myself struggling and someone offers assistance, I feel deep appreciation, and that, in turn, makes me happy.
Contentment
Every day, I seek joy in the little things around me. A bird swooping low can catch me off guard, causing a laugh to escape my lips. When I hear someone burst into laughter in public, it brings a smile to my face—it’s wonderful that they’re enjoying themselves, and why wouldn’t I want a stranger to experience happiness? My Saturday mornings are a cherished time for me, spent quietly sipping coffee and composing this article, which truly brings me joy. Even when I head outside to tackle chores under the biting chill of 30-degree weather, I still manage to find happiness. It may not be the most comfortable of experiences, but there’s happiness to be found nonetheless!
Perspective
Life offers countless sources of happiness, each unique in its own right. While we may attempt to categorize these experiences, it’s crucial to recognize that happiness shouldn’t be limited to just milestones or achievements. It can reveal itself in moments of solitude, the warmth of family gatherings, adventures abroad, kindness towards others, engaging in sports, or simply appreciating the wonders of nature. Even the mere act of existing can spark joy. Ultimately, it’s about the perspective we choose when looking at our lives. By consciously looking for the positives, you’re more likely to uncover them. On the other hand, if you let negativity overshadow your view, you may miss out on the myriad of opportunities to enjoy the brighter moments that life offers.
Looking back: A Year of Growth and Change
Is your life today what you pictured a year ago?
A year ago I yearned for more on my little homestead. I wanted to grow more food, to eat healthier, buy less from the store, increase the variety of animals I had to widen my opportunities and to overall just be more self sufficient.
It started and continues to be, with baby steps. Education, planning and the execution of each step. Creating new habits to accommodate for the new lifestyle I was building and most importantly never giving up on myself or my dreams. Sometimes life happens and plans fall through but that’s OKAY! It’s all a learning experience that we grow from.
I can confidently say that I have achieved my goals. At least for now. 😂 I grew more this year in my garden so therefore my family and I eat healthier. I also buy less from the store because I learned how to preserve those foods to last us. I have added new animals to my little farm and I’m on the way to fresh milk in our fridge.
Am I exactly where I want to be on my homestead? No not yet, but I AM happy where I’m at. I feel that is just as important as the goals you set. Being grateful every step of the way because every step has taken effort. Effort that required me to plan, to put in the work and to finish and follow through. All these baby steps led me atop this hill and I’m only going to keep climbing.
Embracing Homesteading: A Journey to Self-Sufficiency
Hi there! I’m Becky J and I’m thrilled to welcome you to my homesteading blog. Sharing my journey with you fills me with excitement, and I hope to inspire you as you embark on your own adventure in this fulfilling lifestyle. Life doesn’t hand us a guidebook, and there’s truly no right or wrong moment to pursue your dreams.
Let me share a bit about my background. My roots are firmly planted in a small, rural town where I’ve spent my entire life. From a young age, my heart yearned for farm animals and the satisfaction that comes from gardening. However, living in an apartment or a small lot in town made those dreams feel out of reach. While my friends flourished in 4-H clubs and agricultural classes, I found myself on the sidelines, missing countless opportunities to get involved in growing plants in the school greenhouse or diving into advanced animal science classes. Instead, I gravitated toward cooking, baking, and art classes—skills I still cherish and utilize today.
Meeting my husband was a game changer; we discovered that we shared the same ambitions. Our vision was to embrace a life grounded in self-sufficiency, nurturing animals, and cultivating our own food. We devised a plan to save up for a home with some land. Our perseverance paid off after a few years, and we secured a little over three acres, which suits our family of five perfectly.
Our homesteading journey took off with chickens(doesn’t it always😄). We found an old shed on our property and transformed it into a cozy coop, home to six laying hens. Our first garden was modest; it produced enough for a few harvests, but for me, it was a significant victory considering my previous struggles with plants.
As the seasons rolled on, my husband expanded our livestock by adding a few cows to our pasture. Meanwhile, I decided to adopt a pet pig—just for funzies! I committed wholeheartedly to this lifestyle; there would be no more half-measures. With newfound energy, I immersed myself in learning about raising livestock, butchering, and food preservation.
Today, we proudly have chickens, ducks, turkeys, two guinea hens (which my husband definitely isn’t fond of), several pigs, goats, and cows. And let’s not forget the myriad of beloved pets inside our home! This year, our garden thrived, yielding enough produce for us to enjoy fresh meals, share with friends, and can for the colder months ahead.
My mind is always buzzing with ideas on how to enhance our processes and what new endeavors we can undertake to achieve our homesteading goals. It’s a continuous journey filled with learning and discovery. There’s such joy in connecting with nature, and each day, I strive to nurture the life we’ve built together.
These baby steps have guided me onto this rewarding path, and I’m committed to turning my dreams into reality. Together, we can transform yours into something tangible, too!
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