On December 28, 2022, my love and I closed the lid of one of our 30 plastic bins and made our way to our temporary U-Haul storage room.
I’m sitting here on a crisp spring day in April deep in the heart of the Laurentian Mountains — the place my soul now calls home.
I’m still figuring things out. Actually I don’t know what the hell I’m doing . . . but I know why.
I need to simplify my life
I need to remove myself from the frenetic pace of the world and look up — begin to notice the life that is passing me by.
I need to lose myself, so I can re-discover the real me.
People told us “you don’t know snow until you exist in the Laurentians!”
They were right!
Being here feels somewhat like the Swiss Alps . . . the snow is a new way of looking out onto the world. It feels like a fresh white canvas of new possibilities. My life feels like that of a painter, creating a new masterpiece of life - the life I’m meant to live.
The people here seem to be in a different state of flow. I can’t quite describe it in words. It’s lovely to witness. Every day is like a breath of fresh air. I finally remember what it feels like to experience spring. The temperatures are rising, birds are returning, the snow still snuggles, the mountain side, like a blanket of white pearl — proudly, declaring: ‘I’m not done yet!”
Yet I still feel as if I’m straddling two different worlds. I recall the same feeling in March 2020 — the start of the global pandemic, where we spent three months, nestled in the vineyards, and olive groves of Tuscany completing my novel trilogy: 'THE LIFE'. This part of the world feels like the one place where I can really hear the whisper of my soul.
Well, that sweet melody has finally returned. These last few days the whisper has me questioning everything again.
What the hell do I want?
Who the hell do I want to be?
Why the hell do I want it?
I thought I knew. I thought I had it all figured out. But maybe life truly is about losing myself so I can find the life that my soul desires to live. I find myself craving a simple life more and more. Brewing espresso outdoors. Baking fresh bread. Long lingering walks in nature. Bathing in the forest. Cozy café’s and crusty croissants.
Angela bought me my first pair of hiking boots. Real hiking boots. Footwear that I thought would never grace my feet. They fit me like a glove. They’ve opened up new paths – inspiring ways of exploring my new world.
From time to time my thoughts drift to my Converse shoes crammed snuggly in our temporary storage room, waiting patiently to sit among our newly styled closet, but like me, they will have to wait.
Patience, trust, and belief have surfaced as my new lessons for growth.
Things didn’t quite go as I had originally planned. Construction delays land reviews perhaps the universe has something else in mind for me. Well, at least I have my new hiking boots.
Bring it on, show me where I need to be. Hell, you’ve taken me this far. Don’t stop now. I’m just getting started. I’m completely lost for the first time in my life but somehow I’m OK. It's why I chose to RE-visit and RE-write a former book called:
I Don’t Know What the Hell I’m Doing . . . but I know WHY!
If you're feeling lost then maybe this book can help get you where you need to be.
This is such a great photo. Thank you for sharing. Xo
Love this Gerry. Your words always inspire. Thank you for the reminder to :trust the process"
Nice hearing from you. I am very lost. Your words really hit home, I too wish to simplify my life,
but having a real challenge in de-cluttering-------my problem is TIME, have very little, cause I am soul caregiver for Helmut. for almost 3 years now. Finally, have some time at night, but then too
tired to take anything else on.
Laurentians sound wonderful. Any advice my friend?
Hugs Rene, to both of you.
The laurentian mountains look fantastic. Im currently reading your book and love how it’s inspiring me to look deeper yet again and reassess how my life is going. I think you have to do this once in a while. Great book. Love it. I like #hellyeah ;-)