New Pioneer Unplugged

Modern civilization is great, full of conveniences like cars, cell phones, email and the internet.  We can connect with friends and family anywhere in the world at any time day or night.

This observation got me to thinking and wondering if we are handling it responsibly.  Are we still taking care of ourselves?  Getting enough rest, experiencing enough peace.

Even in my fairly laid back lifestyle I still make a point to take a day or two a week to "unplug".  

A mental detox, refraining from human interaction.  It's not necessarily a day I do nothing, I might be quite inspired and deep in a creative project or gardening.

But I do tend to get my best ideas when I'm just sitting on the deck watching the birds.

Simply put, it's like we're a container, and while we're busy and on the go our container is full.  When we unplug and relax our container is empty and allowing new thoughts and ideas in.

I think this is how the Source speaks to us (or God or Buddha, whatever works for you), and if we just heed it, great things can develop.

If we're constantly on the go how do the messages get through?

Just recently I had a breakthrough in my personal life.  At first I found myself struggling to understand a recent challenge.  I took a day to unplug and relax, by mid-day it hit me, enlightenment!  I journaled for over an hour and the issue was resolved.  Wow - therapy on the cheap.

It's my belief that we really do already have all the answers - if we will but listen and trust our intuition.

Have you had a similar experience?

Snow Days

As with all glitches in life, I try to accept the inevitable shifts and changes in plans.

I think snow days are life's way of saying hey - slow down, smell the coffee, stoke the fire.

They are never planned and often a surprise, if not a monkey wrench thrown in your busy path.

Yesterday was just such a day for me.  Living in the foothills of a mountain range one becomes accustomed to weather anomalies.  The main road at sea level could be clear - but here at 800 feet we could have six inches to a foot of snow - even in March!

I bought an all wheel drive car last year and have quickly learned its limits - and mine.  It's not a snow plow and is no match for gravity on a slippery hill.  It performs much like a ballerina on ice skates on level ground that's icy.

So on these snow days I stay home, change plans, cancel work, apologize to clients.  What else can one do?

I find these unexpected days off to be a test of my attitude.  If I give in and allow it to be a gift, then it is much more enjoyable.

Soon I will find myself cooking and baking, or cleaning, sewing, reading a good book by the fire, or writing a blog post!  Time will pass and I will have forgotten all about the missed appointments.

I think it's a great lesson, a metaphor for life.  When sudden changes are thrown at you - are you resilient?  Flexible?  Adaptable?  I'd like to think that these bumps in the road are also part of the grand plan.

Redefining a New Pioneer

I've had a change of heart. 

I have decided to keep the New Pioneer blog up and running!

I think with a few tweaks of topics and a side step into lifestyle, I can keep things going here.

Not to mention all the support I have received from followers and friends, I love you all!!

While the remodeling and renovating have come to a slow crawl, there are still things that need to be done here, like replace the front steps and document the rare bird sightings.

But just as important as the daily tasks and projects, is the lifestyle of the New Pioneer.  Apart from the city, cell phone service, and commercial television.

While some people can't imagine life without these amenities, I find most folks actually admire it, respect it, even.

I think it does take a little more courage to stand out - or stand up - for ones beliefs and choices, especially when they vary from the crowd.  A willingness to detach from the masses and blaze a new trail.

So I think I'll stick around a while longer with this blog, rewrite my description page, or create a mission statement.

Stay tuned for more posts on the New Pioneer lifestyle!  If you like it here, I invite you to visit and follow my sisters blog at Absurd Outlook , where she enjoys a country lifestyle on a river.

Thank you for being here!  More coming soon.