Last week, Paul and I decided to watch the first episode of Yellowstone because our nephew recommended it. What started as curiosity turned into subscribing to Peacock and binge-watching our very first television show. I could spend hours discussing the relatabilities of the show, beginning with the patriarchal family and beautiful family land and ending with trying to create our own lives outside of that framework. Nonetheless, today is not the day for that discussion. Today is the day to discuss some of the advice we can take away from the show to help us live more meaningful lives.
The characters in the show share many words of wisdom. If you are willing to read them, I would like to share some of the truths I believe are worth remembering, especially as we transition into a new year.
1. Living and Surviving are two entirely different things:
“Living day to day isn’t living, Monica, it’s surviving, with no regard for tomorrow.” – John
When survival becomes the goal, life becomes less meaningful and desirable. It is a dangerous mental and emotional place to exist. It is easy to shift into “survival mode” when working 6-7 days a week with minimal opportunities for rest (thanks, Harvest!). However, remembering what you’re working for and finding opportunities for enjoyment is essential in those difficult days. When choosing between living and surviving, fight to live.
2. Misery clouds your judgment:
“When the misery is bad enough, tomorrow is rarely factored into decisions.” – Monica
Life is full of challenges and heartbreak. Horror movies exist because we never have to look too far to find true horrors in this world. Pains, problems, and devastating events can make us so miserable that we cease to care what the future holds. We may not even care to live any longer. Fight through these non-trustworthy feelings; misery clouds your judgment.
3. Use the resources you have:
“… You can’t fix a broken wagon wheel, but you can use the parts to make a new one.” – John
It does not matter which cards we are dealt – it matters how we play the cards we hold. Sometimes we have broken wagon wheels, and those wheels are often resources – not liabilities. We frequently experience bizarre problems on our farmstead that require incredibly creative solutions. We are still figuring out how to calmly assess new challenges creatively while keeping our anger and irritations under control. However, animals, fruit trees, farm equipment, and intense weather provide unlimited opportunities to practice using what we have and handle difficulties with patience and confidence that we will make it through.
4. Don’t let fear guide your decisions:
“I made two bad decisions in my life based on fear; and they cost me everything.” – Beth
Fear is a healthy emotion. Without fear, we would not have an accurate response to danger, and humans would not have survived this long. However, how we handle fear is important. There are consequences to making life-changing decisions based on fear. Those consequences may or may not be detrimental, but they are worth considering beforehand.
5. Our basic needs are much simpler than they seem:
“You know, when you boil life down, it’s funny just how little you need, isn’t it?” – Rip Wheeler
Paul and I learned just how tight a budget could get this year. We also learned just how special a sunset walk, holding hands, and sipping mugs of home-brewed coffee is. Our actual needs are water, food, shelter, God, and each other. That realization makes peaceful living much easier and creates an ability to enjoy the “extras” of life more than I ever had previously.
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