I’ve always found that the first step is the hardest to take.
And so, I issued a challenge on FaceBook. And now I’m challenging you too.
Move yourself up on your priority list. Do something just for you.
Walk everyday for 31 days….for YOURSELF.
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Debbie Bosworth
is a certified farmgirl at heart. She’s happily married to her beach bum Yankee husband of 20 years. She went from career gal to being a creative homeschooling mom for two of her biggest blessings and hasn’t looked back since. Debbie left her lifelong home in the high desert of Northern Nevada 10 years ago and washed up on the shore of America’s hometown, Plymouth, MA, where she and her family are now firmly planted. They spend part of each summer in a tiny, off–grid beach cottage named “The Sea Horse.”
“I found a piece of my farmgirl heart when I discovered MaryJanesFarm. Suddenly, everything I loved just made more sense! I enjoy unwinding at the beach, writing, gardening, and turning yard-sale furniture into ‘Painted Ladies’ I’m passionate about living a creative life and encouraging others to ‘make each day their masterpiece.’”
Rebekah Teal
is a “MaryJane Farmgirl” who lives in a large metropolitan area. She is a lawyer who has worked in both criminal defense and prosecution. She has been a judge, a business woman and a stay-at-home mom. In addition to her law degree, she has a Masters of Theological Studies.
“Mustering up the courage to do the things you dream about,” she says, “is the essence of being a MaryJane Farmgirl.” Learning to live more organically and closer to nature is Rebekah’s current pursuit. She finds strength and encouragement through MaryJane’s writings, life, and products. And MaryJane’s Farmgirl Connection provides her a wealth of knowledge from true-blue farmgirls.
Cathi Belcher
an old-fashioned farmgirl with a pioneer spirit, lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. As a “lifelong learner” in the “Live-Free-or-Die” state, she fiercely values self-reliance, independence, freedom, and fresh mountain air. Married to her childhood sweetheart of 40+ years (a few of them “uphill climbs”), she’s had plenty of time to reinvent herself. From museum curator, restaurant owner, homeschool mom/conference speaker, to post-and-beam house builder and entrepreneur, she’s also a multi-media artist, with an obsession for off-grid living and alternative housing. Cathi owns and operates a 32-room mountain lodge. Her specialty has evolved to include “hermit hospitality” at her rustic cabin in the mountains, where she offers weekend workshops of special interest to women.
“Mountains speak to my soul, and farming is an important part of my heritage. I want to pass on my love of these things to others through my writing. Living in the mountains has its own particular challenges, but I delight in turning them into opportunities from which we can all learn and grow.”
Dori Troutman
Dori Troutman is the daughter of second generation cattle ranchers in New Mexico. She grew up working and playing on the ranch that her grandparents homesteaded in 1928. That ranch, with the old adobe home, is still in the family today. Dori and her husband always yearned for a ranch of their own. That dream came true when they retired to the beautiful green rolling hills of Tennessee. Truly a cattleman’s paradise!
Dori loves all things farmgirl and actually has known no other life but that. She loves to cook, craft, garden, and help with any and all things on their cattle farm.
Mary Murray
describes herself as a goat charmer, chicken whisperer, bee maven, and farmers’ market baker renovating an 1864 farmhouse on an Ohio farm. With a degree in Design, Mary says small-town auctions and country road barn sales "always make my heart skip a beat thinking about what I could create or design out of what I’ve seen.”
Rooted in the countryside, she likes simple things and old ways … gardening, preserving the harvest, cooking, baking, and all things home. While you might find her selling baked goods from the farm’s milkhouse, teaching herself to play the fiddle, or sprucing up a vintage camper named Maizy, you will always find her in an apron!
Mary says, “I’m happiest with the simple country pleasures … an old farmhouse, too many animals, a crackling fire, books to read, and the sound of laughter … these make life just perfect.”
Alexandra Wilson
is a budding rural farmgirl living in Palmer, the agricultural seat of Alaska. Alex is a graduate student at Alaska Pacific University pursuing an M.S. in Outdoor and Environmental Education. She lives and works on the university’s 700 acre environmental education center, Spring Creek Farm. When Alex has time outside of school, she loves to rock climb, repurpose found objects, cross-country ski on the hay fields, travel, practice yoga, and cook with new-fangled ingredients.
Alex grew up near the Twin Cities and went to college in Madison, Wisconsin—both places where perfectly painted barns and rolling green farmland are just a short drive away. After college, she taught at a rural middle school in South Korea where she biked past verdant rice paddies and old women selling home-grown produce from sidewalk stoops. She was introduced to MaryJanesFarm after returning, and found in it what she’d been searching for—a group of incredible women living their lives in ways that benefit their families, their communities, and the greater environment. What an amazing group of farmgirls to be a part of!
Nicole Christensen
Suburban Farmgirl Nicole Christensen calls herself a “vintage enthusiast”. Born and raised in Texas, she has lived most of her life in the picturesque New England suburbs of Connecticut, just a stone’s throw from New York State. An Advanced Master Gardener, she has gardened since childhood, in several states and across numerous planting zones. In addition, she teaches knitting classes, loves to preserve, and raises backyard chickens.
Married over thirty years to her Danish-born sweetheart, Nicole has worked in various fields, been a world-traveler, an entrepreneur and a homemaker, but considers being mom to her now-adult daughter her greatest accomplishment. Loving all things creative, Nicole considers her life’s motto to be “Bloom where you are planted”.
I have accepted the challenge and so very glad that I did! The winter was long and cold and I spent many, many wonderful, yet motionless, days sitting in my comfy rocker with my grandson (first one!). Needless to say I got a little, well, soft. The exercise is truly a plus but the best benefit by far had been the encouragement we share. I can honestly say I look forward to that more than the walk itself.
Join us won’t you?
I bet you will be blessed too!!
I have walked all five days so far! I am noticing God’s glory more in the flowers, ducks, the water of a pond, and in my little beagle’s happy steps beside me. I am sitting in the customer lounge of a camping store getting some work done to my camper….think I’ll go walk around outside…….
I’ll walk with you. Just had surgery and walking is only exercise doc will let me do. This will help me greatly. I love to exercise. Will try to gradually increase the length each day and try to follow doctors orders
Headed out for day 2. Was tempted not to today but I remembered this challenge. Thank
This sounds exactly like what I need….I’ve been feeling rushed, as if I’m doing everything at a dead run. Walking sounds like the perfect, slow-down solution. I’m in.
Thank YOU!!! I am on board!! Off the top of my head I couldn’t think of anything pretty to see but as I read further into you message – GOD – yes He will show me the way to love and joy in walking. God Bless.
What a great idea, Rebekah! Just yesterday I went to my weekly session with my young trainer friend. I had pondered the idea of cancelling my visit and continue with some projects at the house. I went to my work out and left with the EUPHORIA that stayed with me all day and left me with a peaceful night’s sleep…Fact is, I ALWAYS feel better mentally and physically after my sessions. I also do an intermediate yoga class at the senior center, once a week. I found that if I have a designated time to do my sessions I can plan to always be there! When I am overwhelmed at home with my list of projects, I put on my walking shoes and hit the pavement. Always helps!
I sent you a PM on Facebook, too…
Walking! Early March I had a heart attack followed by quadruple bypass surgery, followed by emergency bowel surgery while I was in recovery. The theme of my doctors and rehab therapists has been, “Walking is your friend!” I have become a true believer in this short period of time! Everything is better since I have been WALKING a great deal (and breathing- actually breathing).
I hope your reminder here will aid the healing of many people who didn’t realize this was something fabulous they were missing in their lives.
After losing 15 pounds and keeping it off, I went on numerous out of town business trips and in about 60 days gained back 10 pounds. I need to get up and get moving, so as of today, I am on board! And since I am thinking about getting my Masters of Theological Studies, this will be a good time for me to reflect and talk to God.
Rebekah I am so thankful that you began the challenge because I too have had a difficult time this past winter with my knee and my hips. My story is no where near as horrible as yours; mine was caused by my kitten…only me. I was in so much pain I couldn’t walk or bend my knee. As it turned out I messed up my ham sting and have bone on bone in my left knee, and this has caused me much mental stress. I love to be active but the fear of that pain returning caused me to become dormant challenging myself to a daily walk has been a great for me both physically and mentally.
I am so very sorry that you had that horrible snake experience, every time I read that story my heart starts racing and I can feel hysteria set in. I would probably need therapy if it happened to me.
Thanks again for the challenge
Rene
I’m in! For ME!!! Love it! So sorry you took a tumble both physically and mentally… It happens to the best of us…and it’s NOT FUN. But, glad you are walking back to your old self… just for you… Thanks for the invite to come along! I’ll see ya out on the trail!
Deb
I love the challenge – I have been walking 4 miles with my wonderful dog several times a week. I am now amping that up to everyday. I walk first thing in the morning, the earlier the better and I prayerfully say thank you frequently during that time. Thank you for the beauty around me – spring awakening, birds singing, my happy dog, the fact that I can move freely. Thank you for motivating us and helping us to see the beauty around us.
Walking is pretty much my favorite form of excercise. Now that the weather has straightened up I am back to walking daily. Some walks are short and some walks are long but it doesn’t matter. As long as I am able to spend a bit of time outside each day with Mother Nature, I am a happy girl!:)
I’m working on doing some exercise everyday. I’m much happier when I exercise, have more energy and think more clearly. At the moment I run and do strength training, but do love walking and hiking too when I can. What a wonderful encourager you are. 🙂
oh my gosh…I just saw this! And have been back into that very idea…walking for myself, again. But I need to take my camera and get pictures like you do every day! Very nice. Thanks for the inspirations!
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