Thumbing through books on the 3rd floor of the Saratoga Springs library I come across this quote and feel those momentary tears of recognition bubble and subside within me.
Slow me down, God, and inspire me to send my roots
down deep into the soil of life's enduring values,
so I may grow toward the stars and unfold my
destiny.
---Wilfred Peterson
Although I haven't a clue who Wilfred Peterson is, he certainly got it right. As much as the travel life sends that rush of adrenaline through me--an excitement to keep pushing onwards, to explore the furthest reaches, to climb up every tree and wade through every river, it's important to remind myself to indeed slow down, to stop and enjoy those roses that are all around me all the time. Life in Saratoga is enabling me to do just that, to breathe in deep and fully enjoy the ride that is this life. I feel content and at peace with my path, and that the experiences I am having, the people I'm meeting, and the things I am learning are all in line with where 'I ought to be.' It's like a take on that old, 'everything happens for a reason' except inexplicably more...somehow more real...more cosmic... more grand and wonderful and downright scientific...
A connection brought me to Saratoga, paging through an outdated ad in an old WWOOFING addendum (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) I found a description for SILC, The Sophias International Learning Center. A place that had basically been single handedly started by this woman, Johanna Sophia, and her children in upstate New York. The idea of the place was to create a space to promote all facets of happy healthy sustainable living--for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together to grow, share, learn, and coexist together and become more green and conscious beings in the pristine countryside of New Berlin, NY. Sure, I'd heard about these types of places before, but something here felt different. I immediately felt compelled to write her a long and personal email explaining my past travels and the new direction I wanted to continue my journey in--one I felt was leading me positively without a doubt towards her and her family, east to NY, and the lifestyle she was simultaneously living and promoting.
She wrote back thrilled and explained that things hadn't exactly worked out on the farm/house in New Berlin and they had recently moved into a small apartment north in Saratoga Springs, where she was trying like mad to get some projects off the ground. I was to check out some of her stuff online, and if I was interested to come 'right on over' and get to work. There's not much space, she warned, but I could really use a helping hand as soon as possible!
Knowing I was headed in that general direction the end of October anyways, it seemed like the perfect fit for the meantime. It was quickly settled and I was off, having only a vague notion of what I was getting myself into with the Sophias. We had agreed upon a 3-week sort of trial period for my initial stay, and that we could talk about extending or adjusting ourselves into a more formal agreement if things were going well for everyone involved. One of the most valuable things I've learned in life is that you can survive almost anything for 3 weeks, and at the very least I'd be getting a 3 week crash course in eating a raw only diet, learning tons, and have a place to stay while the leaves turn pretty colors in the east.
I'm about a week in now, and so far things are going great! I always like a good challenge at adaptation, and living in a small household with two teenagers is like a bizarre twist on that shared dorm room experience I never had in college. Real trials in patience and humor and taking it all with a grain of salt, whatever that really means. Johanna herself is fabulous and we are connecting very well, like kindred spirits or soul sisters...or you know, good friends. She is an infinite source of knowledge and the little (big) bits of random information inserted into every conversation are priceless. She wasn't kidding about the work load, there is tons to do that keeps me busy; making contacts and promoting different events...classes, workshops, raw food dinners, designing flyers, writing blurbs...you name it you got it. Assistante Extrordinaire -a thank you very much. It feels very good to be in a service-oriented phase of life, donating my time and energy to a person or cause that seems so genuinely worthy and grateful. Helping to share the load, and gaining such invaluable experience along the way.
Much to do, much to say, don't want to write too much and scare you all away...
Thank you so much for reading. I truly think it's awesome and appreciate it dearly.
Any feedback, questions, or comments are of course welcome always
Lots of love,
Kaitlin M.
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