"If you are lucky enough to find a way of life that you love, you have to find the courage to live it."
I absolutely love this quote by John Irving. It basically represents everything I feel about life and how everyone forgets that we have the ability to make changes in our lives. So many people wish they were doing something else, and like me after graduating college have no idea what it is they even want to do. Some people dream of traveling or quitting their job and leaving town to start the life they've dreamed of, but how many people actually do it? I always wanted to do something different with my life but I never knew how to go about it, or worked up the motivation/courage to just do it. I first thought I wanted to move to New Zealand and work for a year or go backpacking through Europe or be a ski chalet host in Switzerland and finally AmeriCorps. I was afraid to tell people of my plans not only because I thought they might not agree with them, but mostly because I was terrified that if I didn't actually do it I would be one of those people who have so many plans but no intention of doing them. I've read about people on their deathbeds and their biggest regret was not having the courage to do that one thing they always wanted to do. That is so devastating to me and I really hope that the rest of my life and everyone else we can figure out how to be brave enough to take risks and never settle for being content.
It's weird how quickly you get used to living a new kind of life and stop appreciating the newness of it. I have been here a little over a month and as amazing as much of the scenery is, it has become so natural in my day to day life. Driving through the desert and mountains to get just about anywhere feels so normal. It doesn't even feel like there's another option then sleeping on a thermarest instead of a bed and camping half of the week. I try and remind myself what I was doing a year ago, and that if I stumbled across even the tiniest peak of a mountain in the midwest would look so insane and I would be in awe. I want to feel in awe that way everywhere I go and with everything I do.
This was a weird week because of the whole government shutdown shenanigans. Monday my crew went out to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and spent the day putting in signs and searching for huge rocks then moving them around with a rock basket to block off motor vehicles from restoration areas. This was the first time I've actually worked in a desert and it was super hot. The place we camped was really beautiful though. We stayed on a low flat area but were surrounded by rolling hills and mountains less than 100 feet away. Since we figured we'd only be camping one night my whole crew was lazy and ended up cowboy camping. I got to watch the sunset from my sleeping bag and wake up all night to the amazing view of the stars and milky way over the mountains. Also to the fear of a tarantula crawling over my face or a big horned sheep stampeding me. Luckily neither of those fears were turned out to be necessary.
Tuesday morning we woke up to find out that the government was shut down and since we were working with the Bureau of Land Management and they were closing we could no longer work on that project. Almost every partner that we work with has been forced to stop working so our only option for projects is in the Spring Mountains with the forest service. We all went back to the field station and got out early to go home and sleep under a roof in the middle of the week. Weird! Wednesday all 6 of the crews went out to the Spring Mountains to work on some more trail building, woo. It ended up being fun camping with everyone and having a bonfire in the 40 degree weather. I won't go on about how angry I am at the government but there were actually barricades blocking a gravel roadside parking spot next to a trail head, and rangers were being paid to block off another trail. RIDICULOUSNESS I TELL YOU.
Here is an awesome video you must watch of what we'll be doing at chainsaw training next week...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdJicpjitMM
