Well, Karen’s place is all packed up and we’re just waiting on the removalists to arrive. There were a few tears last night, leaving in any capacity brings its sorrows, but when it’s been your first home it’s always that bit harder. I’m sure I’ll be no different tonight as we pack up the last of the things at my place.
We’re both exhausted but really happy that the end is nigh, it’s been a very long month.
Catch you all on the other side 😊
Namaste
Raven
A.L.A.S
We’re taking a well deserved break this evening, thanks Dad for putting on a bbq for us. Both houses are ready for the removalists and mine just has a few cupboards to finish off later next week.
We still have quite a bit of shed stuff to move from my place but hopefully we will knock it over quickly.
Then the fun of cleaning my rental begins and getting Karen’s place ready for sale and unpacking all our stuff and dealing with the overgrown gardens and paddocks that have got away over Christmas and settling the animals into their new home and working out buses for Nick and finding work (for me) and returning to work for Kaz and shit, why did we do this?
Lol, oh well, as much as we are exhausted and there is so much more to do, I’m really glad we finally made the decision to move in together.
Can’t wait till Tuesday night, first one in our new home and as for the rest, I’m just taking it one day at a time and trying to enjoy the process.
Right now I’m doing just that. I’m sitting on the front steps, taking in the view of the Dial Range and enjoying the shade and the cool breeze.
Hope everyone is well wherever you are xx
Namaste,
Raven
A.L.A.S
Today’s assignment: edit your title and tagline.
“Deep inside the forest” I found,
Another Life, Another Story
When I was about 10 years old I came across the tv series, Grizzly Adams, and I fell in love. I fell in love with the man, the animals, and the way of life, but mostly I fell in love with the wilderness. Not long after, my parents took me on a holiday to Katoomba in NSW, Australia and for the first time in my life, I experienced the beauty and tranquility of being surrounded by mountains and forests that took my breath away. At that moment I made a vow to myself that one day I would escape the city and live in a place like this.
Jump forward 10 years and I found myself living in Tasmania, Australia. Still living in the suburbs but surrounded by some of the most amazing wilderness on earth, I dreamt of a day when I could buy a home out of town and finally realise my childhood dream. Over the next 15 years, I spent countless hours roaming through the wilderness, falling more in love every day and finally coming to the realisation that I not only wanted to live in the bush, I needed it. Coming home to the suburbs from these bush walks always left me feeling like there was a huge piece missing from my life. It was only when I was out in the wilderness, surrounded by the tranquility and peace of the forest, that I found I was able to really relax and unwind.
On the 20th of November 2015, my wife and I finally did it. Hmmmm, that is to say, we finally bought a home in a beautiful rural/bush area of North West Tasmania. At the moment we are going through the hectic process of relocating but we are almost there and next week we will finally be living in our new home.
When Michelle asked us to think about the name and tagline for our blog, I realised that a big part of what I want to share with my readers all stems from this childhood dream. I chose Lifetimes (plural) of Gratitude for my site name because I believe that I have lived many times before and I’m happy to stick with that for now but I wanted to change my tagline to reflect the thoughts I’ve written about here today.
“Deep inside the forest” is the first line from the song, Maybe, by Thom Pace which was the theme song for Grizzly Adams. The second part of the tagline is a reference to the way I tag my posts, poetry, stories, and illustrations.
Another Life, Another Story, because I believe this isn’t the first time I’ve been here and probably won’t be the last going on the way I’ve managed to majestically screw up so much of the first 47 years.
My current journey has brought with it a lifetime of dealing with depression and anxiety, autism, gender and sexuality issues, and very low self-esteem. I am so grateful that the last seven years have seen me finally living in a space where I have learned to appreciate my own worth and while I’m sure there will be many lessons to learn throughout my remaining years, I’m very happy with the place I’m in right now.
A large portion of my personal growth has occurred in the wilderness and it’s within this sacred space that I want to share,
Another Life, Another Story.
Namaste
Raven
A.L.A.S
Our new home: “Baile” Natone, Tasmania
Inspired by Maybe – Thom Pace 1979.
Deep inside the forest
Is a door into another land
Here is our life and home
We are staying, here forever
In the beauty of this place all alone
We keep on hoping
Maybe
There’s a world where we don’t have to run
And maybe
There’s a time we’ll call our own
Living free in harmony and majesty
Take me home Take me home
Walking through a land
Where every living thing is beautiful
Why does it have to end
We are calling, oh so sadly
On the whispers of the wind
As we send a dying message
Maybe
There’s a world where we don’t have to run
And Maybe
There’s a time we’ll call our own
Living free in harmony and majesty
Take me home
Take me home
“Sometimes, we get caught up in nostalgia, future fantasy, or both, and we don’t embrace the “now.” For this week’s challenge, take a moment to notice your present, and share a photo of it”.
Written in response to The Daily Post – Photo Challenge – Now
Today started with more stress than I care to deal with so this challenge was timely and appreciated.
Combining Christmas and moving house is never an easy thing and although it has been going relatively smoothly, there have been moments when I’ve felt like pulling my hair out.
So…
I took a moment to stop.
To appreciate the now in my life.
To sit and watch the water as it sprayed amongst the ferns and watch the light dancing on the fronds.
I took a moment to recover, to appreciate, to enjoy and I am grateful for the reminder to live in the now.
Namaste
Raven
A.L.A.S
lifetimes of gratitude 