No Regrets... Like the great Dr. Seuss says, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” I have never been one to stop and dwell in a valley. When it’s time, it’s time. I never tried to rush to the end before I got to experience what phase I was in presently. Each phase had its own purpose and joy.
I have visited many schools during my fourteen-year journey, and it is my friends and teachers that I must thank for helping me understand the meaning of success. Those who cared to watch me grow were able to give words of encouragement from the heart and not just from muscle memory. With their kind support, I pushed my way to the top of what I thought was the entire world, hoping to make them proud.
Life comes at you fast, and time only seems to move faster as you grow older. This is a concept that I have been exposed to my entire life, but it has taken 18 years for me to finally realize the terrifying truth behind those words.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FARMER … There are so many moving parts to running a farm and a business that it’s hard to encompass them all. Every day is different, and every day there are trials you did not have the day before. It is challenging and evolving, and it is a beautiful and hard lifestyle. Still, I feel it should be mentioned that I maintain a level of freedom that is enviable. Once my animals are taken care of, I can go help a friend, go to the lake with my family or take a vacation in the middle of the week.
“Let us not forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man. When tillage begins, other arts follow. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of human civilization.” —Daniel Webster … While it may not fit with our American ideal, it is possible to live without new shoes and clothes. While they provide convenience and entertainment, new computers and the latest technologies are not mandatory for life to persist. And while going from place to place would be more difficult, it can absolutely be accomplished without a vehicle.
There is something nostalgic and pure about the idea of picking blackberries, gathering eggs and enjoying birds chirping in the morning breeze from your oversized front porch. It evokes feelings of a quiet and uncomplicated life, untainted by the bustle of busy streets. It is country living at its best. Nestled in the very center of Bowie County, down a long and winding red dirt road, sits a small and unassuming bit of the good ole days. Country living is not for everyone, but for Faith and William Ellis, that long dirt road represents more than the route to their home.
I’ve always thought of myself as someone who loves to be outside with nature and animals as long as the day can still end with a hot shower, air conditioning and a comfortable bed. So, as I was pondering the importance of our local farmers, I was a little awe-struck. I think work on a farm teaches life lessons early; it teaches lessons of the unjustness of nature, the payoff of perseverance, the redemption found in faith and hard work and the value of honesty.