Stuck in South Dakota

So many S-words come to mind for the month of September - stuck, stymied, sick, sinus infection, sadness, SHIT!!, solitude, solace, soul-sucking, slowing down, and then sticking with it. All of the S-words gave way to a collection of R-words - reset, recover, rebuild, and recommit.

For fun, I had ChatGPT make a poem out of it, and it nailed it.

September’s shadow lingers long,  

With sickness, solitude in song.  

Sinus pressure, sadness grows,  

Stuck in places no one knows.  

But through the stillness, something stirs,  

A quiet shift, a silent blur.  

The S-words fade, their weight will lift,  

And R-words rise, a steady drift.  

Reset, recover, piece by piece,  

Rebuild the hope, renew the peace.  

Recommit to paths once lost,  

For growth comes only at a cost.  

September’s trials now unwind,  

In healing, strength is redefined.  

For those of you who read Kimberley’s “Ungrounded” post, she chronicled the adjustment to  #RVLife while moving through life as a couple and a family. It’s real. When faced with giving up, I refused. Forward is the only way. I can feel it in my bones how important this trip is for our family. As hard as it can be, the journey is worth it. In the days leading up to our wedding anniversary this year, we had to recommit, and we have. I’m proud of us.

Being stuck in South Dakota has two sides to the coin. You all have one side pretty clearly, but there is another side. South Dakota is simply amazing. You cannot possibly cover all of its beauty and hidden gems in the span of a month. Like Montana, this state deserves a dedicated trip. Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park, Devil’s Tower, Badlands, Jewel Cave, Wind Cave, the grasslands—I mean, the list goes on and on.

The ratio of people to land provides a rich environment with accessible camping areas in beautiful country. The people are kind and helpful. You have to add an hour to any errands around town because you will get waylaid by a local with an interesting story to share. It is all amazing.

Being in one place for a month allowed me to appreciate my surroundings and take stock. So many people believe they need to travel the world to feel worldly. I’ve often felt that there is a universe to be explored by sitting still and simply looking around you. September was about the stillness of nature in one location. 

Reading about Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau early in life set a tone for my life outdoors. I’m re-reading (actually listening on Audible) some of their writings again. Their reflections about having solitude in nature as essential to personal growth are more poignant than ever. 

Emerson viewed nature as a reflection of the divine. He believed that spending time alone in nature allowed individuals to connect with the "Over-Soul," a universal spirit that connects all living beings. In his essay "Nature," Emerson argued that solitude in nature is essential for personal growth, inspiration, and self-reliance. He believed that being alone in nature fosters a sense of unity with the world and helps individuals transcend material concerns to access more profound truths. For Emerson, nature was a sanctuary where one could shed societal distractions and experience inner clarity and spiritual renewal.

Thoreau took these ideas further by living them out in practice. In his famous work "Walden," he chronicled his two-year experiment of living in a cabin by Walden Pond. Thoreau believed that solitude in nature was a path to self-discovery and a way to live deliberately and simplify life. For him, solitude was an opportunity to break away from societal norms, experience life in its purest form, and understand the essential truths of existence. Thoreau celebrated nature’s simplicity and advocated for deep contemplation, finding wisdom in the quiet and stillness away from the busy world and that one can lead a more meaningful, authentic life through solitude in nature.

This trip is a way forward for our family. The universe has a way of giving you what you need and only sometimes what you want. When we set a goal to “simplify,” I think we were mistaken and short-sighted. Like Emerson and Thoreau, I realize we’re committed to a longer-term vision of a more meaningful, authentic life and our vehicle is nature and solitude. 

With love from the road, cheers to your journey!