RV Fulltime Living On The Banks Of The Missouri River... Inspiring Lessons From Nature
RV fulltime living creates many newfound pleasures - freedom, adventure, relaxation... but the most wonderful are the inspiring lessons that come from Nature as one travels from North to South, from East to West... or when you nestle down on the banks of a river.
There is pleasure in the pathless woods
There is a rapture on the lonely shore
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar
I love not man the less, but nature more
~ Lord Byron
We are currently nestled down on the banks of the Missouri River - have been for three years, workamping at a small private campground where some times we're surrounded by a host of happy fellow adventurers and wanderers, and other times we're all by ourselves in our own secluded retreat.
Every day, every season, every sunrise and every sunset offers new lessons from nature!
We've endured the ravages of floods, a blizzard, drought, hail storms and tornadoes. We've delighted in watching the barren winter landscape transform into new life, the canopy of summer leaves turn to shades of red and orange and golden yellow, the full moon turn the darkest night into day, the immense blanket of stars glistening as diamonds.
Through all the seasons, we've slept and walked and sat and worked with this river always in view, always front and center to give us inspiration and courage... to keep on going, never give up on our dream.
When I sit by the river, I am undone and changed, I am pulled into its slow, rhythmic dance... swept up in its arms - all stress released as I lose myself to its steady flow.
It's amazing how the lessons from nature are always smack dab in front of our faces, for us to heed or ignore. This mighty river has been the source of inspiration, awe, reflection and strength as we live and breathe and plan and dream on its shores.
The following lessons from nature are what I have gathered from the countless hours spent watching the river:
LET GO OF THE SHORE: When you take a step of faith into the flow... when you release the fears that choke and suffocate and hold you back, you will move in the direction of your dream.
Along the edge of the river are piles of debris - dead trees and branches and trash that are twisted in a jumbled heap at the river's edge. There is no action there, no movement, no life in the stagnant pile. It suffocates, strangles and binds. You must learn to let go of the shore - to move into the flow where the water runs freely and you are not held back.
STAY IN THE FLOW: It is the forward action you take, the step by step plan you follow - no matter what obstacles come up, that creates momentum and results.
The river never stops - its water is always moving towards a greater destination. Even the best attempts by man to control it cannot hold back its power to overcome any obstacle. Never Ever Ever let anyone or anything stop you from reaching your dream.
REFLECT YOUR LIGHT: Choose to shine the LIGHT that is within you - be a spectacular reflection of hope and goodness and love to others. Keep your light on!
Every day on the river is different. The river's color changes from muddy brown to brilliant blue, depending on the light it reflects. When there are clear skies, the sunsets are spectacular visions of purple, red, yellow and blue. When it's cloudy and gray, everything has the same dull appearance. The magic happens when there is a break in the clouds and the rays of sunlight gloriously appear as promises of hope, assurances of peace. Reflect your light to do the same for those who are seeking.
RESPECT THE POWER: Your thoughts are powerful beyond what you know and understand. Take precaution with your thoughts, for what you think about comes about.
The local river rats who have lived on the river all their life respect the incredible powerful current the river has. It's not always evident to the naked eye, but they know the strength and power which lies underneath the surface. They take precautions when heading out in their boats. They know how to watch for jetties and dikes and whirlpools. They are in a constant state of awareness to keep safe disaster. Guard your thoughts, for what you think about, comes about.
FROM SMALL TO MIGHTY: There are times when it will seem that you are small and insignificant in this world, but you must understand... there is no one exactly like you, with your story, your skills, your creativeness, your ideas. The world needs you to step up to the plate, stand up tall and be YOU.
This river starts as a small trickling stream and grows to the mighty Missouri river which flows into the magnificent Mississippi which is carried to the Gulf of Mexico where it joins the wide expanse of the ocean. Do something from where you are, with what you have... and watch how you begin to grow in might as you touch and change your life and the lives of those around you.
One day soon, we'll leave this river and head down the road to other beautiful areas, where mountains rise up thousands of feet toward the sky, where massive canyons reveal the depths of nature's beauty, where sandy beaches calm and soothe the restless soul, where deserts share their secret beauty.
We'll change our surroundings, switch up the view out our window, but the lessons from nature we received from this river will remain with us for always.
There is pleasure in the pathless woods
There is a rapture on the lonely shore
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar
I love not man the less, but nature more
~ Lord Byron
We are currently nestled down on the banks of the Missouri River - have been for three years, workamping at a small private campground where some times we're surrounded by a host of happy fellow adventurers and wanderers, and other times we're all by ourselves in our own secluded retreat.
Every day, every season, every sunrise and every sunset offers new lessons from nature!
We've endured the ravages of floods, a blizzard, drought, hail storms and tornadoes. We've delighted in watching the barren winter landscape transform into new life, the canopy of summer leaves turn to shades of red and orange and golden yellow, the full moon turn the darkest night into day, the immense blanket of stars glistening as diamonds.
Through all the seasons, we've slept and walked and sat and worked with this river always in view, always front and center to give us inspiration and courage... to keep on going, never give up on our dream.
When I sit by the river, I am undone and changed, I am pulled into its slow, rhythmic dance... swept up in its arms - all stress released as I lose myself to its steady flow.
It's amazing how the lessons from nature are always smack dab in front of our faces, for us to heed or ignore. This mighty river has been the source of inspiration, awe, reflection and strength as we live and breathe and plan and dream on its shores.
The following lessons from nature are what I have gathered from the countless hours spent watching the river:
LET GO OF THE SHORE: When you take a step of faith into the flow... when you release the fears that choke and suffocate and hold you back, you will move in the direction of your dream.
Along the edge of the river are piles of debris - dead trees and branches and trash that are twisted in a jumbled heap at the river's edge. There is no action there, no movement, no life in the stagnant pile. It suffocates, strangles and binds. You must learn to let go of the shore - to move into the flow where the water runs freely and you are not held back.
STAY IN THE FLOW: It is the forward action you take, the step by step plan you follow - no matter what obstacles come up, that creates momentum and results.
The river never stops - its water is always moving towards a greater destination. Even the best attempts by man to control it cannot hold back its power to overcome any obstacle. Never Ever Ever let anyone or anything stop you from reaching your dream.
REFLECT YOUR LIGHT: Choose to shine the LIGHT that is within you - be a spectacular reflection of hope and goodness and love to others. Keep your light on!
Every day on the river is different. The river's color changes from muddy brown to brilliant blue, depending on the light it reflects. When there are clear skies, the sunsets are spectacular visions of purple, red, yellow and blue. When it's cloudy and gray, everything has the same dull appearance. The magic happens when there is a break in the clouds and the rays of sunlight gloriously appear as promises of hope, assurances of peace. Reflect your light to do the same for those who are seeking.
RESPECT THE POWER: Your thoughts are powerful beyond what you know and understand. Take precaution with your thoughts, for what you think about comes about.
The local river rats who have lived on the river all their life respect the incredible powerful current the river has. It's not always evident to the naked eye, but they know the strength and power which lies underneath the surface. They take precautions when heading out in their boats. They know how to watch for jetties and dikes and whirlpools. They are in a constant state of awareness to keep safe disaster. Guard your thoughts, for what you think about, comes about.
FROM SMALL TO MIGHTY: There are times when it will seem that you are small and insignificant in this world, but you must understand... there is no one exactly like you, with your story, your skills, your creativeness, your ideas. The world needs you to step up to the plate, stand up tall and be YOU.
This river starts as a small trickling stream and grows to the mighty Missouri river which flows into the magnificent Mississippi which is carried to the Gulf of Mexico where it joins the wide expanse of the ocean. Do something from where you are, with what you have... and watch how you begin to grow in might as you touch and change your life and the lives of those around you.
One day soon, we'll leave this river and head down the road to other beautiful areas, where mountains rise up thousands of feet toward the sky, where massive canyons reveal the depths of nature's beauty, where sandy beaches calm and soothe the restless soul, where deserts share their secret beauty.
We'll change our surroundings, switch up the view out our window, but the lessons from nature we received from this river will remain with us for always.
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