I made the decision to pack up and move out to the wide-open west from the east coast with my three teenage daughters last May. We moved to a very remote area of New Mexico where we had never been before to live in an off grid home surrounded by mountains and millions of acres of the Gila National Forest.
Some people were surprised by my spontaneity, and curious as to why we needed to move so far away. My only answer was ‘Because we can.” The answer proved sufficient for some but seemed to confuse others.
I could have come up with a thousand reasons not to go but when I really thought about it – none of them were actually keeping me in one place – it was just the comfort of being in that place that kept me there. It was the routine and the familiarity that made life easy – but also left me longing for something different.
Moving 2,000 miles across country with 3 kids, 5 horses, 5 cats and 3 dogs was a big undertaking there is no doubt about it – but I knew it was something I had to do. It was a journey I needed to take – just because I could.
I was lucky enough to have a wonderful job working from home and all that was required was a reliable Internet connection to make it all happen. With a few boosters and a little tweaking, I have the Internet service I need and the last 11 months living in the great west has proven to be one of the best decisions I have made for not only myself but also my children.
We share the land that surrounds us with massive herds of elk and antelope along with bears, coyotes, mountain lions and wolves. There are more stars than you could ever count and sunsets and sunrises that are so beautiful they look almost fake. It is so quiet you can hear the flap of a bird’s wings as it flies overhead. Yes, this was a good decision.
How often in life do we decide to “Just do it” because we can and not because we have to? The freedom that comes with making your mind up to do something a little daring, a little scary and for sure a little uncertain can be amazing and highly therapeutic.
We all have the opportunity to inject ourselves with something a little “outside of the box.” It doesn’t have to be a cross country move, just something that when you think about it – sends a little shiver down your back …
Just doing it because you can may be the best gift you ever give yourself and those you love. Give it a try and when people ask why – Â be sure to tell them, “I’m doing it because I can!”
– Susan Patterson
Susan is the Content Director at The Alternative Daily, a Certified Health Coach, Certified Metabolic Typing Advisor and Master Gardener. With an extensive knowledge of whole foods and wellness, Susan enjoys educating others on how to live healthy and sustainable lives. She presently lives off grid in the middle of the New Mexican high desert with her three children and numerous animals.
