Dez's Bootcamp Experience (BRK)

POST 70 Sunday
Slept in past my alarm.. this is unusual.. maybe I’m tired, weak, or adjusting to the push-up regimen, or it’s the change in weather.. or all of the above..! Will keep monitoring.. snow is so fun.. apparently it’s supposed to melt off soon..

Enjoy the pics!

POST 71 Monday
Cold day.. 3 degrees.. shoveling powdery snow around the abbey was exhilarating—bc it reminded me of childhood play, when the world was new.. then I jogged for 10 minutes through WL to take in the views of the frosty pines.. the landscape tastier than icing on a cake.. perhaps satisfying the crave for exercise and sweetness at the same time.. you know that feeling when your heart smiles?..

Enjoy the pics..!

POST 72 Tuesday

.. there’s much laughter in the house tonight.. some spontaneous dancing, from certain individuals also.. it’s a safe place where I can relax enough to just be.. to me, that is home..

Enjoy the pics..

POST 73 (DAY 79, Wednesday, 2020.10.28)
[Morning Entry] ...The Championship Arena...

A THOUGHT: .. anyone can soar in the momentary bliss of winning.. its almost a feeling of freedom.. hopefully each of us have had a chance to win at something.. perhaps while scoring a goal in a ballgame, or when biking on training wheels suddenly feels limiting, or when that girl says yes to the date, or something mundane like having some alone time in the bathroom before the kids wake up, or something slightly ridiculous like cooking a fried egg that slides (Jen!) and then watching the video go viral (double-win?!!), or perhaps simply getting out of bed with a sore back and hobbling to the kitchen somehow in one piece--perhaps these are wins too.. from complex to simple, I suppose wins can be found wherever and whenever they are sought out.. What I've learned is that the seeking is a critical part of the game..
    It's easy to disregard or ignore the small victories that lead to the bigger victory, and then conclude that there were zero wins up to that bigger win.. but looking back--what about the little guys?.. what about that popped egg yolk that helped me learn what not to do next time, or what to do better?.. this is all just my opinion--those count as wins.. likewise confessing true feelings, in and of itself, is the success, and winning a date is a byproduct.. (where am I going with this?.. I don't know of course, but i'm willing to find out.. shall I arrive at a "point" soon?.. perhaps.. maybe not.. maybe?.. read on if thou darest..)..
    It takes a certain resolve to train, through the pain of learning lessons, to get to a place where the raw sting of losing is perceived as a gain and not a loss.. these trials seem to be in series.. each lesson repeating until the method is learned.. Today, I find myself among the finest in the arena [of permaculture].. how did I make it here?.. What qualifies me to train with these "giants" of the permaculture world?.. And what's going to pull me through if/when I fall hard?..
    Not hyping-up any one person or program--this is just my perspective.. I don't really know how I made it here--but I consider it an honor and a privilege.. While I'm here, in what I consider training, I will "Follow the Leader" to keep up with my current company, until my training wheels can come off.. to me, this means to focus on observing and contributing in like fashion.. simply put, "add value".. and not be distracted by my own old habits, with a willingness to unlearn as well as re-learn.. What's going to pull me through is to cultivate my own willingness to be vulnerable and open to feedback.. A willingness to potentially feel that sting of "losing"--that sting is the unlearning!.. and YES, it hurts a lot sometimes~!..

gotta jet--bootcamp is starting.. to be continued..

[Evening Update]
    The ones who get up after a fall.. those are my champions, and I champion them.. I wish to be among the best.. I wish to be my best.. there will be pain, but the gain will be worth it, ten-fold.. being here at WL makes the challenges worthwhile because I've come to understand that one of the culture points here is to support.. Supportiveness was and still is my greatest wish.. If I can receive and offer support, from and to those around me, I believe that is the ultimate victory.. let's go..

enjoy the pics..~~!

=====
ps.. speaking of champions.. check out these two dudes.. (special mention to Penny, Ash, and Opalyn.. the other theee outside visitors who joined WL for the BB20 event this past week!!!..)

Beau--WHY BB20?  "..To Osmose.."

Beau joins us for the BB20 event (Winter of 2020), all the way from Kansas.. He has been on permies.com for a while, so he was able to coordinate with Eric (another long-time permies.com fellow), to deliver Eric's donation/gifts, which included some awesome vintage hand tools and a beautiful stack of glass panes,  just to name a few items.. Beau wanted to experience an "Opportunity to 'Osmose' WL".. He earned countless BB's while he was here doing a variety of things, from building fires and woodracks, to cooking breakfast for 8+.. Combining his musical experience with his passion for permaculture and homesteading, Beau has plans to create an artist's "retreat center" of sorts.. I don't know of the official title for it yet, but I know it's going to be amazing~!!! Thanks for bringing you awesomeness, kindness, and generosity~!.. We will miss you, and sincerely hope you come visit again soon..

Mike--WHY BB20?  "..To Learn about running a PEP event.."

Mike Joins us all the way from Wisconsin-land, to partake in the BB20 event (Winter of 2020).. and he brought us a big 5-lb brick of provolone (which vanished in a day).. A real life santa claus who brought us warm socks and hats from the 2nd hand store--props to your resourcefulness and thoughtfulness, Mike~!.. He also facilitates the operation of a "community gardening" group back at his home, knows how to fell trees, and cook apple crumble pies in a rocket oven.. Mike was always willing to have a genuine heart to heart conversation, and up for a light-humored joke with that infectious smile of his--such a pleasure to be around.. Thank you for your generosity, youthful spirit (even tho your hip was hurting), and leaving us wanting more.. We will miss you and sincerely hope you visit us again soon at WL, Mike~!!!

POST 74 Thursday

Fasted yesterday morning and this morning.. I do feel it’s benefits mentally/spiritually.. Physically, my core temp stays low, but energy seems ok.. although I must say, core temp goes up as normal when chopping wood!.. funny.. peculiarly..

THE WORK: AM — peeled logs at the lab.. in the snow.. toes froze, but still feel-able, so all good!.. been craving buffet and/or fish for the last week or so.. randomly, images of the buffet layout (from when I lived in The City) would pop into my head, and I’d feel a strong yearning to be really full of all my favorite foods in one sitting.. buffets were how I treated myself after having reached some kind of goal, about every other month.. I loved going to the Indian buffet for lunch because of the delicious vegan dishes.. maybe I’ll go again someday.. or maybe I’ll make a buffet day here at WL someday..
    I ended up eating some salmon fish from a can with pickles and spicy mayo and kalamata olives.. “how many olives did you eat?”.. “olive-them!” (All of them)

Enjoy the pics~!

POST 75 Friday
Feeling pretty fatigued for some reason today.. need to sleeeeep..

Enjoy the pics..!

POST 76 (DAY 82, Saturday, 2020.10.31)
[Morning Entry]

A THOUGHT: ..a summary on work ethic.. [based on my own personal experiences and observations..]
    .. many can bring a 2-day work ethic to most things.. the first day of work is usually fueled by hype-energy and willingness to learn due to likely ignorance of the work-environment and or culture; the second day of work is fueled by final-stretch-energy, knowing that almost any discomfort can be endured because it will be over by tomorrow..
    .. some can bring a 2-week work ethic to many things.. the first week of work is usually fueled by hype-energy and willingness to learn due to likely ignorance of the work-environment and or culture; the second day of work is fueled by final-stretch-energy, knowing that many or all of the discomfort(s) can be endured because it will be over by next week..
    .. few can bring a 2-year work ethic to few things.. the first year of work is usually fueled by commitment-energy and willingness to learn due to likely ignorance of the work-environment and or culture; the second year of work is fueled by final-stretch-energy, knowing that many or all of the discomfort(s) can be endured another year, because by then the commitment will have been met..
    .. a rare few can bring a 20-year work ethic to a rare few things.. the first decade of work might be fueled by optimism and curiosity, as well as a desire to fulfill a cause; the second decade of work might be fueled by a vision or a dream that has been cultivated by the first decade..

All of these are great, and there's nothing better or worse.. I believe none are right nor wrong, per say..
All of this to say that I am no expert on work-ethic.. I have only witnessed versions of me who were carrying out the 2-day, 2-week, and 2-year work ethics.. the 20-year work ethic is one that I hope I am currently carrying all to the finish line.. At the end of the 20 year mark, I will have a grand celebration with good food and great company--and then I plan to begin another 20-year trek.. Every other decade will mark a new beginning, as each year, week, and day mark a new beginning.. In other words, each day I begin again.. fresh with willingness to learn and a fresh desire to commit, with optimism and curiosity toward a vision or a dream that fuels my journey.. each day, I begin again in humility and wonderment, because I know the discomforts are temporary..
    Distractions abound in the City Life [as I know from 30+ years of personal experience].. It seemed everywhere I looked, my mind was being bombarded by ads or soliciting or the like.. Here at WL, there's so much opportunity to focus because the distractions are spaced out, and further from reach.. Focus is much more accessible and here.. All I do is choose to reach in front of me to pick it up.. and ride..

enjoy the pics~!