I don’t look my age. When I say that, I don’t mean it as a bragging right, I just know I don’t. People always thought I was the younger sibling in my family. My husband is 8 years younger than I am and people are always in shock. Some say it’s because I never wear make-up, others say it’s the vegetarian lifestyle. Some even credit my seemingly easy, stress free life (which always makes me smile… oh what they don’t know!). I’ll tell you what my secret is : I treat age as a number, it never defines me…
I’ve changed fields of work more times than I can count. I consider myself the perpetual student. I’ve always been a pretty fickle career women. Mostly because, I’ve never really wanted a career. A job has always been what pays the bills and when I had been in a job for too long, monotony would set in and I would reorient. Once, it even brought me back to school after several years for a bachelors and 3 semesters of a masters. Wen to school in my field. but still, 5 years later, I reoriented.
The only thing that has ever lasted longer than 5 years has been my love of the home. Being a mom, a wife, having a home to care for and make sustainable. Planting, growing, fixing, building… Creating a universe that is to me and my loved ones an oasis of peace. That is my dream career.
So when Isis from Little Mountain Haven told me about this amazing online class given by The Herbal Academy of New England, I just knew that is what I should be doing right now : Learning how to heal and care for my family naturally. I had already started a herb garden, hoping to make a few teas, but this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up!
* click on the image for more information *
I started 2 weeks ago and have devouring the readings and material for the class. I haven’t been this excited about learning in a long time.
I will be 40 this year, but I still don’t feel it : My home makes me happy, my mind keeps me young… You are never too old to learn and life is to short to not have the life you really want!
Have a good night everyone. xo
Family, Faith, Food and Fabric 
YES! To all of what you said. I am pretty much the same, I have reinvented myself many times over the years, returning to school not once, twice, but three times to learn more and move myself in different directions. To me that is life, learning, growing and changing along the way, always becoming a better version of oneself.
Enjoy the ride of your course, I can say without a doubt it will change so many things for you. xo
LikeLike
Kindred spirits… I’ve loved meeting all you incredible people so much. I’ve always been considered kind of the odd ball out in my family and friends…
I have a feeling this course will send me down many more roads. I’m already thinking about doing their intermediate one. Very exciting!
Have a lovely evening my friend. Thanks for the late visit. xo
LikeLike
Age is from health, attitude, and appearance. Sounds like you’ve got all 3 going for you. Me, too. 🙂 I’m 53. My friend Mark and I had dinner together last fall and at the cashier’s counter we commented to each other about when was the last time we’d seen each other — a year before. The cashier was surprised, perhaps because Mark and I were so easy and happy together. I asked the cashier if she could guess how long we’d known each other. She was young — her sense of time is poor, and she couldn’t guess. I had to do the math quickly and said, “Forty-five years! We’ve known each other for 45 years!” It’s true. We met in 4th grade, when we were 8. She couldn’t believe we were even 45 years old yet.
Here’s a picture of me and another long-time friend. My husband took this three weeks ago.
https://picasaweb.google.com/mjmcneil81/RiverHikesMay2014#6025230605642407746
I’m on the left. It isn’t a great picture of either me or JG. But you can see we’ve both held up pretty well. 🙂
LikeLike
Wow… I have to agree, you look closer to my age than yours! I have friends like that… My oldest friend and I realized a few weeks ago we had known each other for 30 years. We barely felt 30, let alone have known each other that long. 🙂
Thank you for sharing!
LikeLike
46 years young and happy to be that way! I teach (or at the least work in a school at the moment) so keeping a young outlook on life helps me to relate to the children.
LikeLike
I agree… I won’t lie, I love being my 8 yo niece’s cool aunt that dances to One Republic and Fitz and the Tantrum in the bedroom with her. My kiddos definitely keep me young. I think it’s my will to dig into their imaginary world with them… How can you feel 40 when you are building fairy houses???
LikeLike
Good for you! Constantly learning is what life is about, in a way. I have stuck with the same career/job for twenty years, but luckily I have always worked part-time (until recently) which has allowed me to pursue my other interests in my spare time: Ancient Greek, aromatherapy, personal training, millinery, reflexology, are just some of the things I have studied! Long may the learning continue; it’s great if you can apply your knowledge to healing and nurturing your family.
And yes: you definitely look young (and beautiful!)
LikeLike
Awh, thank you! *blushes*
Ancient Greek? As a language or cultural studies?
That would have been awesome, to be able to do things part time. But money was always an issue. Less now, which is why I’m able to do this class. My husband and I have also signed up for the a series of free online permaculture lectures. Hoping to learn how to maximize our little 1/3 of an acre.
I’ve always found learning invigorating. I get excited about it. I’ve always loved school. Part of me was sad when summer vacation came.
Thank you for stopping by! Wishing you many more stops on the learning train!
LikeLike
Ancient Greek language, and 5th century Athenian democracy (by distance learning – some time ago!).
I hope you enjoy the permaculture course. My husband has enjoyed putting his permaculture knowledge into practice this season in the community veg garden (but pests were a real problem).
LikeLike
That’s so exciting!! I’ve always loved learning, I don’t think I’ll even stop wanting to learn something every year. I also really think that knowledge is the key to being happy with the aging process as you’re so full of awesome wisdom!
I’m bummed I can’t take this right now, I really should of realized that summer = gardening/preserving and winter= learning 🙂
Best of luck with it all, I look forward to hearing more of what you’re leaning about
LikeLike
So far, we are into real basics : Vocabulary, equipment, the roots of herbalism. Next unit is the start of common discomforts and the herbs to help. 🙂
For your info : You have up to 18 months to do the class. They recommend doing it in 6 to 12 months, but your account stays open for 18. So if you would want to start now, even if you didn’t have tons of time (like I do) you could still give it a go. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh that’s great to know!
LikeLike
Great to have found something new you’re finding exciting, and especially great we live in a world where it’s so accessible even with young children. I read ‘The 100 year old man who walked out of a window’ quite recently, maybe not the best book I’ve ever read but the part I loved about it was just the fact that it’s never too late to change your life, never too late for a new beginning, there are choices out there to be made whether big or small all the time.
LikeLike
So well said… And yes, all these online classes for busy moms with little people to take care of are a God send! 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: A love of learning | Family, Faith, Food and Fabric