farming community – Take on Life After 50

Have you ever heard anyone say the older you get, the faster time flies?

I used to think they were just using it as a figure of speech, but I now see how much truth there is to it. It seems like just yesterday I was getting home from Calgary, and it’s already three-quarters of the way through November. If I’m not careful I’m going to wake up and be eighty-something, and not know where the past thirty years have gone. Now that is a scary thought.

My time has not been wasted however. I have been brushing up on learning Canva so I can make more printables for my Etsy Shop plus design my own postcards, worksheets and brochures. It’s a good skill to know and the more I use it the better I’ll be.

In addition to the above I’ve also picked up some extra shifts at work while our manager is away enjoying a much-deserved vacation. I don’t mind the extra shifts though, because it will help offset the two weeks we’re closed through Christmas holidays.

And speaking of Christmas, I committed myself to having a table at our local Christmas Market. I’m changing up my wares a little this year because there are other vendors with crocheted items. I don’t like to step on anyone’s toes so am adding some woodburned items to my table. Plus the handspun alpaca yarn and dryer balls should find new homes.

Volunteers are an integral part of any community, especially a small one like ours. It has been decided to update our area history, so I have taken on the role of website moderator and newspaper article contributor. Our little committee of five all bring something different to the table; my expertise is the computer and writing side. As the information starts trickling in, I foresee some editing required as well.

Designed on Canva. It’s pretty basic compared to some of the designs I have seen created (and have created of my own).

The reason for mentioning the history book project is because it ties in with time flying. The first was done in 1983 so it’s time to update it. If we don’t take the time to do it now, much of our history will be gone when the elderly pass on and are no longer able to tell their stories. Preserving history is important; even moreso when the younger generation doesn’t seem to have an interest in it. I do have to say though, I’m sure I was the same at their age.

Do you find the time passing by quickly, or is it moving along just as you expect?

Working part-time and freelancing has its advantages. Today I am helping out with the harvest.

It is my job today to watch the grain drier. We’ve had a wet summer and fall, so putting wet wheat into the bins is not a good idea. The grain drier does just that; dries the grain so it can be safely stored until it is trucked to the grain elevators.

I’m fortunate I am able to take my work with me. We only live a quarter-mile away from my father-in-law’s, but I prefer to stay at his house so I can keep a better eye on the equipment. I do a walk-around every fifteen minutes, just to make sure all is running smoothly.

Living in a farming community is exactly where I like to be. Having grown up on a farm, I still enjoy the quiet and wide open spaces. I’ve done my share of living in cities and towns, and am so fortunate to be able to have a rural home again.

Before my dad passed away five years ago, I spent a good portion of the fall hauling bales, swathing and combining. I miss him every day, but even more so this time of year. It was when him and I spent the most time together.

Setting the farm talk aside for awhile I’d like to talk a bit about growing as people. It doesn’t matter how old we are, there’s always an opportunity to learn and grow. Sometimes life itself teaches us the biggest lessons.

One of the biggest things I have learned is that as a writer, I have to go out and get what I want. Sitting around waiting for someone to notice me and my work is not time well spent. Being an introvert doesn’t make putting myself out there easy, but it is something I must do if I want to succeed as an author.

And to get a better feel for what it takes to make it in the writing world, I have purchased an event pass for Wordfest’s Imaginairium in Calgary Alberta. The event runs from October 14 – 23, and will host a number of speakers each day. I will be attending from the 17th to the 20th, as I am unable to go for longer than that. As a relatively new member of the Writer’s Guild of Alberta, I am excited to learn of the writer events available. (I’m going to allow myself one day to drive there, and another to drive home. And I’ll be back in plenty of time to cast my ballot at the polls on the 21st.) My goal for attending the Imaginairium is to connect with other writers and speakers, with the intention of building some friendships beyond the event.

To attend such a large event on my own is both scary and exciting for me. This is where growing as a person comes into play. Without stepping outside of my comfort zone I may never realize my full potential as a writer, or as a contributing member of the literary world.

No matter how old we are, there’s always room to learn and grow. Farmers can learn to utilize technology to be more efficient, and writers can learn to go after what they want in their careers. And no matter who you are, there’s always a learning and growing opportunity just around the corner.

To wrap up this post (I know, it has been a long one) I would like to briefly step back to the beginning of it. If you live in a farming community, enjoy it and never take it for granted. If you’re an urban dweller, I encourage you to pay a visit to a nearby farm. I’m sure you’ll gain some new insight on what farmers do and how they contribute to your food supply. And if you’re also a writer, your experience can be used as story fodder.

Have a great week,

Diane