Ozzie and I saw a coyote the other day, and it was a really, really scary moment. I believe that was the moment during which I decided to cast my fears aside and take a desire I've been harboring seriously.
I've been trying out a lot of new things lately. I think starting as a volunteer at the Humane Society has helped me prove to myself that I can try new things and not be apprehensive about them. I was very scared to begin something new like that, but after 20 months of caring for dogs at the shelter, I know that I can conquer the initial fear of new things and really enjoy them.
Tonight I went to a ladies' night at the local gun club and really had a blast! I'm not sure if that's something I'd have been able to do if I didn't already force myself to try new things beforehand, and if the encounter with the coyote hadn't happened. Seeing that rather large, wild animal looking longingly at my baby made getting a gun a more serious priority for me. I also want to start trying out some of the hiking trails at Blue Hills, but with all the wild animals (human and not..) I am worried for my safety. I think having a gun with me will ease those fears quite a bit. I am really looking forward to the open house next week, so I can try out some more shooting and get even more of a feel for the club. I'm already signed up for the gun license class in 2 weeks! With a little push from myself I hope to become a member! I really enjoy trying out new things!
I am a bit worried that all of the things I've been dabbling in don't quite go together in a traditional sense..
I have also joined a local community farm share. This summer I am going to be bombarded with tons of fresh vegetables, herbs, fruits and flowers and I can't wait! I have to commit 8 hours to working on the farm and at the distribution table when people pick up their goodies, and I've already signed up for 10 or more. I'm really excited about this endeavor as well!
I'm just not sure if I will be accepted by both group (guns and CSA) if they know I am actively involved in both groups! Honestly, I am not one for caring what people think of me, but I am worried that people may think that I am somehow tricking them or pretending to be something that I am not. I just want to be me, even if that is a gun carrying humane society volunteer, eating the bounties of the land.. To me it makes perfect sense.. Protect that and those that you love, and nourish local and natural. I can protect myself and Ozzie on our walks (we saw a coyote the other day - SCARY), I can protect the animals at the shelter with my care, I can nourish myself locally by hunting my own meat (that is the ultimate goal out of the gun club, to kill my own dinner! haha) and eating veggies I help to produce. See, perfect sense.
I think I just have to get past my own stereotypes of these groups of people and see them all as individuals who share a common interest :)
Another new thing I hope to try out soon is riding my bike to the train station as part of my commute! This is a really exciting thing for me, and I really want the weather to cooperate so I can try it out! It will save me a WONDERFUL $104 ever month IF I do it! Instead of buying a commuter rail pass (to the commuter rail station .25 miles from the house) I will buy a subway pass. The subway is 6 miles from my house. This endeavor will be 12 miles of biking, daily. I KNOW I can do it. I just have to find the motivation and put the excuses aside and do it. I know how easy it is to stick with the old routine and do what's easiest, but like I found out volunteering at the humane society, giving new things a shot and putting a real commitment in to it even when it might be scary, or hard, or exhausting, is totally worth it in the end. I am going to try out the biking in May and if it's something I can do, I will start saving my $104 in June :)
This is going to be a really fun and exciting summer for me! Pushing myself to try new things is exhausting for me, but the more I do it, the easier it really does become. I am very excited for my CSA to begin, I still LOVE volunteering at the humane society, I'm looking forward to the gun club open house and the license to carry class, and I want to try out my biking to the subway and hiking Blue Hills!
