“Making a beginning is one-third (1/3) of the work”
~ An Irish Proverb
I did it! I clicked “check out” and created a blog, a domain name….actually, I did this about a year ago. I’ve sat on this for a year!! The doubt and insecurities flooding in like the Mississippi during spring melt! Access to everything these days is intimidating. The many many homesteads, ideas flooding social media like Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook (there’s probably more–I’m just diving into it all)
Let me introduce myself. To many, I go by my initials, K.T. Exit 408 is ground zero–everything I am is because of the childhood I had in the community at this location. I’ve been a soft extrovert my whole life where coming home energizes me just as much as being around people. I think now more than ever we are recognizing how important home and community is to us in this world! The walls of our home have absorbed history of families and generations as time passes. The very bones of its structure is part of its personality–celebrated by the human touch, gatherings and love.
In life’s adventures, I’ve taken wrong turns, lost my way, and chose short cuts. It’s taken me almost 40 years to accept my story. Some people will say I was the villain in their story; some say a savior. Believe there is a white and a dark wolf that we all have to feed. I now imagine my demon as a dragon, named E.D. that lives in a cave I saved my inner child from incredible trauma from years ago. And I have to constantly nurture E.D. through a holistic lifestyle because if I don’t acknowledge it, E.D. likes to rage and set….all of my shit on fire. About a year or two ago, I finally accepted my life as it is, as it came to be, because I was tired of rebuilding after the wrath and rage of E.D.
A lot of my therapy was using my hands to create, to minimize the materials and distractions for a simple life; and to redefine my needs for my own footprint in the health and wellness journey–not some “one-answer-fits-all.” Recently, I’ve been able to let my guard down–and create an amazing circle of support. My tribe.
My purpose in this life is service in community. Both nature and human–although I do not see much to be mutually exclusive of each other. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved psychology. Contemporary theories stress that the focus of developmental understanding must be on systemic change (Ford and Lerner 1992). This focus is required because of the belief that the potential for change exists across the life span (e.g., Baltes 1987). Unfortunately, the expansion of psychology didn’t happen until I graduated from college. So, community was given a different word when I graduated from college–ecosystems. I turned to a long career in wildland fire where I learned how important interdependency is in ecosystems….communities. My purpose was always aligned within my passion–to bring worldly perspective, vision, and open-mindedness to create our best self, and a world of interdependent communities within human and nature.
Hands down….wildland fire has been the most rewarding and challenging career choice for me! In the chaotic emergency, I feel honored I am one bringing comfort and a sense of calmness to those communities at risk. It’s dirty work and I’m a wanderlust most of the year. Coming home is very important to me. My career moves me around the nation–and possibly the world in special opportunities. My love for this career also comes with a side of reality. It’s a hard labored job and I have been doing it for 17 years. I have recently stepped out of primary duties into a support position related to fire on the prevention and mitigation side. Basically, instead of leading a module of 5 to 20 fire personnel, My time will be spent supporting those folks and educating communities on creating a fire resilient and fire adapted culture. Instead of chasing every puff of smoke in the air–I can choose to go operational. I’ve been building up to this for almost two decades. This ruck sack and I are planning on the next moves. Homesteading, greenhouses, bee-keeping, holistic wellness centers/retreats and coaching while always advocating for my brothers and sisters in first responder roles. The ideas are endless! Starting somewhere and building the empire takes time. So, here is my first step!
I purchased my first home nestled in the mountains of Colorado. it’s been a really exciting adventure to envision and create home. I’ve found that to get home cozy-and on budget–you have to get diy savvy! I’ve done and tried many things I want to share to help inspire your savvy. Getting savvy with diy brings individualized personality to its very doorstep.
My style? Change! I love it all….and I love to stir it up! No cookie cutter, magazine worthy home. No social media influencer life perfected in front of a camera. Simply impossible to attain and impossible to live authentically. I don’t want to be ‘woke,’ I want to be compassionately curious and raw! I crave learning all there is–and not just from my experiences. Give me the messy, chaotic life with tears of joy and sorrow. Show me the scars and imperfections! Live to tell the daring tales of life!
When I moved to Colorado from Oregon, I sold everything and lived out of a camper. The minimalist life style in action. It all snowballed because of the first, real, and terribly bitter relationship I had. Miles away from my support group–I found forever friends that stabilized me so I could heal from heartbreak and launch into what has been the most prolific journey of my lifetime 🙂
In this day and age, post pandemic and knee deep in inflation, living simply is living savvy! Create the comfort of your home using your savvy style. Create a community that lives simply, lovingly, and respects Mother Earth. And live purposefully and holistically within your best self!!
Thank you for being here and welcome to my community!