Living outside of the box (By Kevin)

I have been on a sabbatical from posting in our blog because it has been a busy couple of weeks, but I am back in action! During my travels across Northern Vermont, I’ve been doing some research and collecting items for our blog. I was going to indulge my ego some more and post the video and article on my fire rescue, but I was told “enough” by a very-pregnant someone, and that I “did not need to keep tooting my own horn.”

So today, I bring to you the concept of: living outside of the box. Or should I say inside the box? How often do you think about where you live, your possessions, what you have and do not have? Comparing yourself to others? Thinking you need things that you don’t actually need? We are a nation of massive needs and wants. Look where that has gotten us today: a huge financial crisis, a bailout plan for whoever wants a bailout plan, mortgage foreclosures…the list goes on. Whatever happened to working hard, earning your possessions, and paying cash because that is what you can afford? I look around and realize that, yes, there are a lot more things that I would like to obtain in my life. A bigger house for Emma and Baby Kouri, and a real yard for Cooper and Cabot to play in with no worries of knocking over an old lady or getting yelled at by the condo Nazis. I need to step back, however, and remind myself that life is good. I have health, family, the love of my life, a baby on the way and my own dog, Cabot (he is the chocolate one). I guess even though Cooper was given to me for Valentine’s Day, we all know who he really belongs to. I get to do my two favorite pastimes, skiing and golfing with good friends. There will always be wants, needs and desires and hopefully I will be able to achieve everything that I set my sights on. For now, I count my blessings and am thankful for all that I have.

I arrived at a farm a number of weeks ago and heard voices that I could not identify or locate. I finally happened upon a box in the milk house, filled with two brand-new kids (goat babies) with a heat lamp covering them with warmth. This was a goat herd of about 100 or so; therefore, kids in boxes small containers is a pretty common occurrence. I peered down into the box I think to myself “Boy, am I glad I am not a goat baby.” Do you ever put yourself into someone else’s proverbial shoes and wonder how it would be if the tables were turned? I find myself doing that a lot. Try it sometime - it makes you appreciate the smallest things in your life. Like not having to live in a box, literally, and waiting for some farmer to come by and give you a bottle of warm milk. Have you ever looked at a goat closely? It looks as if they are staring right at you trying to speak to you. I think this is why I am so freaked out about working with goats.

Anyway, during this Holiday season, be grateful for what you have and be glad you do not live in a box like the goat kids. Make an effort to think outside of the box as well. I know I am going to in the coming New Year.