“Are we there yet?”
A question that has been bellowed from the backseat of cars or with dragging feet.
I remember presenting my parents with this infamous query on trips both long and short, and later my kids doing the same to me. It’s a universally human cry, one that showcases our impatience for the journey.
I have been posing this question to myself as a year of living in a construction zone at Patina Meadow has come and gone.
To be honest, while I can envision the peaceful future we will have at our farm, at the moment it is not as picturesque, especially as the pristine blanket of snow that covered the property last week melts away to reveal reality, one that includes more plywood and mud than I would prefer.
I can’t tell you how many times I have dreamed of fast-forwarding a bit to when everything here is completed and my space can once again feel like a quaint haven. But, I’ve noticed that once I allow those thoughts to become the most prevalent in my mind, I get sucked into a spiral of despair that swallows me, and all the things I love about my life, whole.
I’ve realized that life lies in the in-between, in the moments between the first inspiration and the finished creation. If I wish to jump to the future, I miss out on the unexpected beauties that lie in between. While living in an active work zone, so many wonderful things have come to fruition in other aspects of my life that I would have rushed by on my way to the finish line if a more naive version of myself was given a remote to fast-forward to the future.
There are still days when I wallow, where I look out on buildings that feel will never be done and am flooded with a sense of impatience. But, in those moments I remind myself that all of this is life, no matter how slow or how fast it feels like it is passing by, it still is, and to wish it away is not something to aspire to. We are meant to feel it all, to bask in the glory of all the experiences because they are all life in the making
So I still ask the question, “Are we there yet?”, but I make sure I don’t forget to look out the window to admire the view as it swiftly passes by.
What is something in life you are trying to get more comfortable with? I would love to have a discussion with you all in the comments.
xx
Brooke
Hi Brooke,how’s everyone out there.Finally we made it to the Philippines.My husband is the one really on to have a farm.We had the land about 2 hectares years ago.While we were still in Northridge California,my husband’s mind was always in the farm.We started to have few pigs until we had more piglets.My experience and in actual watching mama pig delivered 10 piglets.Amazing!!!
Goats roaming around and delivered more. To cut it short my story.We can’t find a trustworthy caretakers.The third recent caretaker that just fired by my husband is the worst among other caretakers.In a matter of 5 months that we are in the Philippines,two of our cows died.Our macho Brahman cow died.per caretaker our macho cow died because he was…
I enjoy your posts so much. They always have a way of calming my thoughts and making me feel that I’m not alone. 2023 was a year that I would like to forget. After being diagnosed with breast cancer again after 21 years, having to have a double mastectomy and after 3 surgeries and 4 infections, life was starting to come together. A couple days before Christmas my husband had a heart attack. We are both doing well and working on making sure to live in the moment and to make the most of all that is offered.
This post touched me in particular, as I continue to ask myself “are we there yet?” We may not be, but lik…
Think how lucky you are to be able to do what you are doing (remodeling, building, improving, changing things on your property) for the better. I sit here wanting so badly to do those things and have such yearning but not the money to accomplish it. In the mornings, I sit by my computer working, with my windows open and I hear other people in the neighborhood working on their houses, I hear hammering, the cutting of wood, men speaking Spanish while installing a new A/C unit. Painters painting. Landscapers trimming trees (which I desperately need to do). Instead of being sad that it is not me with those sounds of progress I bask in the joys of peopl…
Tonight as I was driving and praying not to wish this time away (in the thick of our renovation) feeling like my life is so out of order right now. I’m reminded that this time too shall pass for sure so why wish it away. The Lord says in whatever situation I am to be content. Then I open IG, see your post and it was every single word I needed to hear. Thank you.
I was inspired by you and Steve back when you had the house and you bought the chickens with the beautiful feathered headdresses. I loved the way you decorated and Steve’s paintings of the sea in different shades of blue or blue green. I have lived in Las Vegas since 1971. I always wanted a beach house so I decorated the house to look like I’m on the sea. I believe in God and he has gotten me through loss of our son David when he collapsed in a basketball game dead at 13 years old.
I lost many years to deep grief not knowing our extremely athletic son had a heart condition.
At some point I found your blog,…