We got settled into our new campground in Apopka, Fl yesterday, after being given 48 hour notice to leave CB Smith county park.
To catch everyone up, we had 3 weeks left on our stay at CB Smith. It truly is our favorite campground, lots of green open spaces, lakes, exercise trails, and more. I love the land and cherish our stays there. I really like that they don’t pack you into close quarters as other campgrounds do. But the introduction of new animals at the park is what made our stay even more magical. We made friends with a beautiful peacock we named Sasha, and two bunnies named Rebecca and Bernadette. While the bunnies wouldn't let us pet them or pick them up, my heart would leap for joy each time they hopped up to me and took a carrot from my hand. We always knew we be leaving, but didn't worry about the rabbits. Plenty of other campers there to look after them, and lots of grass and plants for them to eat. But never in our wildest dreams could we have known that they would kick all the campers out with 48 hour notice, and that the National Guard would move in and militarize the beautiful land. The bunnies seemed to sense something was happening. They spent way more time around us than normal. We grew concerned as we saw the park emptying out. Less cars and RV's meant less safe places for the rabbits to hide from hawks and other predators. They suddenly appeared very vulnerable to me. They were under the car when we finally had to leave. They normally run whenever we get into the car and start the engine, but this time they wouldn't leave. I had to get a stick to scare them out, but even then they were resistant. They didn't want us to leave, but didn't want to come with us either. As we made our exodus from the park, the military presence was already strong, with about 500 uniformed personnel from my guess under tents and manning barricades. I watched as the peacock approached them, hoping to make new friends. And my heart broke to see this magical place turn into something very different. Will they cherish the land as we did? Will they protect the animals as we did? Like many others, we were set to self quarantine for a few weeks. Forced though it may be, we were looking forward to the quiet space to tune in and nurture our souls. Instead, this week has been a very hectic week of running last minute errands all over South Florida to prepare to leave for the season in 48 hours instead of our planned 3 weeks. But we're in our new temp campground now. Next to an airport, the train tracks, and a busy road, crowded in close to other campers. When does the peaceful downtime begin? I'll admit, I am filled with a sense of grief. But the loud plane over my head drowns it all out. Written By: Elizabeth DiPace www.OurBigWindshield.com
2 Comments
When I say the word ascension, some people may immediately shut down and tune out. That word has too much of a New Age feel to them, something they cannot relate to. So, let’s set that word aside for the time being, and instead speak of transformation.
When we talk about transformation, most people only feel comfortable scratching the surface. Perhaps they’ll cut sugar out of their diet, or paint their house a new color. I always pay attention to the transformation happening within a woman when she chops off her hair or does something drastic with her external appearance. She is expressing to the outside world the change that is happening within her. She looks in the mirror and says “I am not the same person, I do not recognize the person in the mirror anymore.” And so calls her hair salon to make an appointment, or in some cases, her tattoo artist. This is a perfect expression of the internal change being reflected by the external change. The fun thing is, it works both ways. You can kick the internal transformation into gear by creating changes in the world around you. It may start with clearing out your closet. This creates a wave of momentum, and if you allow it to flow without fear of throwing out something you will miss, then you may then find yourself tackling that bookshelf, or desk draw, or garage. As you externally shed these material items that have weighed you down, for the possession and ownership of each material object in your house requires an energetic place holder within you, you begin the clear your energy field and allow movement and change within your psyche. Much of what we hold onto we do so out of fear. How often have you found yourself keeping a cardboard box, just in case. Or that stash of plastic to-go utensils in your kitchen draw, just in case. Let’s consider those words “just in case”. What it quite literally translates to is: I may need this in the future, and may not have the means (financially or otherwise) to reacquire it. There is a fear of lack. But there are so many different fears that keep us stagnant. Fear of failure, fear of poverty, fear of discomfort, fear of loss of social status, fear of loneliness or isolation, fear of uncertainty or change itself. The people I feel saddest for are the ones who say “I can’t because…” to every solution provided for them. They are truly stuck, because they have been playing that programming over and over again in their words and beliefs. And these are the people who seem to be the most desperate for change. You can offer them a thousand suggestions and avenues to make their dreams come true, and they will respond to each one with “I can’t because…”. They will never be able to rise above. Lateral steps is the best they can hope for. You could give them $100K, and still, nothing will change for them. The reactions from other people towards the extreme lifestyle change my husband and I have made has been rather fascinating. There are those that look at it very disapprovingly. They feel we have made a poor choice by not embracing the American dream of owning a home, corporate career, community roots. You can see how they are so trapped within the matrix, that they can never hope to escape. But that’s okay. They are perfectly happy, as far as they know. To them, everything about our actions and reasons seem quite absurd. Then there are those who look at what we have done with longing in their hearts and eyes. They see the freedom, the liberation. They admire our bravery, and silently say “If only we could”, or “If only my spouse would agree to this”, or “Someday, maybe.” This is the most common response, and I often wonder if they really want to live in an RV, or if it’s the casting off of chains and finding their own path that they really crave. Because you see, it is not about the novelty of living in an RV, nor is it the ability to travel and see much of what this world has to offer. It really is about freeing yourself from all the rules that society has placed upon you. And once you free yourself externally from these programs and beliefs and rules, you begin to experience true internal liberation for the first time. And it is from this space that you discover the real you. But it is the rare and brave souls who say “I can do that!” and dig deep to create that change in their lives. Some will quit their corporate jobs and turn every aspect of their life on its head. They seek another path. They allow themselves to be as water, flowing and searching out a new place to run free, not bound by man. I am immensely proud of my friends Tom and Teri. They have undergone a massive clearing as they too have sold their home and most of their possessions. They will be moving into their RV full time in less than 2 weeks. We are beyond excited for them. Not because they are following in our footsteps, but because they are following their heart’s desire. The process of making the decision, setting it into action, and purging your personal possessions at that level creates deep changes within you. They are shedding, releasing, and healing so much within them as they go through this process. It has created space within them to discover more about themselves and live freely. And by living freely, they will experience even more changes within themselves, and how they view and see the world. Now, we are not telling you that you must change, or how you should go about it. But change is the side effect of growth and expansion. Change is where new adventures await. Change is where you discover more of you. Change is a symptom of living free. There are those who enjoy change as they enjoy a kiddie pool, only going in up to their ankles. And there are those who seek change by jumping off a high dive into a vast ocean of possibilities. But you cannot fully experience change if you are trying to keep one foot on the ground, and one in the puddle. Change for you. To hell with what others think. Written By: Elizabeth DiPace www.OurBigWindshield.com |
AuthorSometimes Honey (Al), and sometime Babe (Elizabeth). Archives
February 2021
Categories |