Integrity creating an Indelible Homestead!

Homesteading in essence is built on self-reliance creating and building our stead into a home.  There are many who classify themselves as Homesteaders, Preppers,  Survivalist and even Thrivalist (which I like to call myself) but today let’s not  get hung up on debating the definition that each perceives as true for the title, after all what difference does it make, it’s important only to the person claiming the title and you know who you are and what you believe, it doesn’t matter that someone else does, that is the beauty and grace of self-reliant/sufficient  living , no one else’s opinion  matters in the grand scheme.

Where is your homestead right now? The wilds of the mountains, perhaps within the urban sprawl or a quiet little subdivision somewhere.  Where you live right now is in fact your homestead, it is your stead the place you, stand your ground, surround you and yours with protection and love, your proverbial castle.  The stead  (n. 1.  The place, position, or function properly or customarily occupied by another. 2.  Advantage; service; purpose): the center and your home (n. 1. A place where one lives; a residence. 2.  The physical structure within which one lives, such as a house or apartment. 3.  A dwelling place together with the family or social unit that occupies it; a household. 4. a. An environment offering security and happiness. b.  A valued place regarded as a refuge or place of origin) so in fact your “homestead”.  At this very moment seek to know where you are, right now.  Begin to make where you are as self-sufficient and reliant as possible. Start now, sooner than you can imagine you will be ready and prepared to move to the next step which might be making a move to another more inclusive homestead.

Something often overlooked when we talk about homesteads is the nucleus of the home and that is the family.  It doesn’t matter whether it’s you by yourself and your extended family living miles away and friends or you and a partner or a partner and a whole herd of young’uns family is core. Family is what gives us a foundation, that rock to anchor to. It may be cliché but foundation really is the beginning and what will help us to endure throughout our lives. A foundation built on integrity, efficiency, durability and love. Foundation includes not just the material issues of a building and tools but the skills and relationships we build with others and ourselves.  If total adversity and calamity come our way our foundation is what will keep us afloat and thriving.  Core belief systems are something we should look at, examine, do we know what we believe what we stand for; you might be surprised to know that a vast majority of people never ask themselves the question. Have you asked yourself, better yet answered yourself. Answering that question today does not mean that as life moves along and we acquire new knowledge and skills that we can’t alter or add to ourselves, that’s flexibility and adaptability, two very key elements. There is a song with a lyric something like “if you don’t know what you stand for you stand for nothing at all”. I believe a pretty accurate statement in life and something worth considering. Knowing what you stand for is part of the basic foundation and will affect the choices and decisions you make along the way. Parents and mentors your beliefs are the first structure and knowledge your children will come to know,  if you provide a stable, knowledgeable loving belief you will help those young minds learn  the process of forming belief through investigation, faith and open-mindedness , they will have a strong first level on their  foundation.

Do you feel at loose ends? You asked yourself the question and in reality you really don’t know? Articles often ask the question but no way to realize the answer.  Don’t despair and don’t go on living unconsciously.  Letting life and everybody and everything else control yours. The first step has been taken if you honestly asked yourself the question, you are now ahead of the game, next up assess where you are, ask yourself the tough question, what do I believe, don’t limit your thoughts, take  out a pen and paper and write down what you are thinking, writing it down makes it more tangible.  Make no mistake this is a pretty big undertaking and not something you’ll breeze through in a moments time,  rather an exercise in preparation to live more fully, you don’t have to answer all the questions today, note what you think about, the emotion behind the feeling, is it so or emotionally charged reaction. Make this a daily event perhaps over morning coffee or walk or your work out at the gym (just don’t forget to write it down) a mini tape recorder is awesome for this and something easy to carry along and much quicker than writing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a brilliant thought and moments later can’t remember it. Saying it out loud and recording it for later, rocks. I purposefully have not addressed religion nor the right or wrong of it. I am not copping out or taking the easy way out, I believe and note I said I BELIEVE that there is religion and there is  spirit, that religion is of men and spirit of the divine. Being of men, religion is controlled by men/women and quite personal to each of us an integral part of who we are and incites sometimes, great division among us. Something I believe spirit is not about, and that is division. I can’t think for you, none of us can think for anyone else, nor would I want to.  We may attempt influencing another’s thoughts and sometimes we do offer broader understandings to one another or not. However, thoughts are yours alone and help to form your belief system.  I will say listen, evaluate open your mind and don’t blindly accept anything without looking for the integrity of It, is it guided by love and caring for you and others or manipulation, greed, control and division? You make the choice you make the creation. Know that no one can take your integrity away, but you can give it away, value a man/woman for what they do, not what they say. Something I ask myself often is… Is what I am doing right now working? If not what do I have to lose… and the response is pretty much I have everything to gain by opening my mind with integrity. So seek openness, education and yes guidance from those you respect and realize we can do it.  There is of course much more to be said about mindset and foundation this is something personal to each of us but well worth knowing.  I’ll close this segment , and hope you will join me for the next writing.

Author: Lynna, The Other Side… A Preppers Path
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