Casey O’Neill is a farmer and owner of Happy Day Farms in Laytonville, Calif. The opinions expressed in this column are not those expressed by The Mendocino Voice.
Dear Body: Thank You! Thank you for another year, for carrying me through the early mornings, the long days, the work of farming in service to this calling. Thank you for rising again today, for providing for me, for holding me together. I honor you.
This fall, I turned 43; I reflect on the changes in my body, in the ways that I am aging, in the new aches that come with a life of physical labor. I look back on the years of effort to build our farm, the thousands of wheelbarrow loads of compost, the tons of rocks dug from the slope, the tending and cultivation of rich, dark earth.
Hands sow seeds that undergo the miraculous transmutation from dormancy to sprout; they husband a life of vigorous growth, and these same hands harvest the abundance that springs forth. Tending to this alchemy is an experience of magic, of mystery. The cycles of growth, death and decay ground me as the wheel of the seasons turns.
I offer gratitude to my organs for the unseen efforts they make day in and day out; to my joints, muscles, tendons and cartilage; to my feet, legs, torso, shoulders, arms, hands and head. Each year the stoop labor of planting and harvesting has just a little more impact, yet I treasure the work and am glad for the chance to do it.
I think of the labors of love, those of the land, and those of the heart and soul. I think of the relationships I tend and treasure, of the manifestations of love. I am grateful to my flesh and blood for fostering these feelings, the ephemeral spirit, the sum that is greater than its parts. I sit in reverence for the light of consciousness, reminded to seek the path of right work in this precious life.
As my fingers tap the keys, I think of the work these hands do in the course of a year. How many times they grip the shovel or the harvest knife. Of the tools they hold with skill and dexterity, operating as though with a mind of their own. I think of the muscle memory that allows me to do the work with less effort, with the focus of flow state that becomes almost unconscious as I do the labor I love.
I think of the ways my body rises to the challenges of which it is asked, the way it shows up again and again. I am reminded of the simple joys of life, the camaraderie and fellowship of work done together, of shared effort in a shared journey. I am grateful for the care and love I receive, and resolve to offer my love and care in return.
As the years slip by, I reflect on the fulcrum of knowledge, of the ways that I learn to work smarter as little by little my body changes in strength and capacity. I look back on the last twenty years of learning to farm, and it gives me great hope and joy to think of the lessons learned that will be applied, even as I learn the lessons of the years to come. Each trip around the sun I sharpen the blade, that it may cut through the effort with ease as I continue this labor of love.
I think about the ways that I love, the acts of service that bring delight to my soul and lift my steps. In this moment of reflection I draw energy into myself, receiving succor from the hard work done, transmuting it into determination for the work to come. These moments of deep reflection are part of managing burnout, of recharging my spirit, yet I am reminded that care for my body is of equal importance.
I resolve to cook more, to make more hearty bone broths, to prepare with love and consume with care. I come to see that I can only push so hard before I break, but that if I support and lead, then we can move mountains. I resolve to stretch more, to keep the pace manageable, to ask for help when needed.
Love flows through, it comes from the sun, from beauty, from interaction. I am surrounded by love, and it is my greatest calling to offer love in return. The wellspring replenishes, waters flowing from deep cool and calm to offer guidance and intuition. The bubble and chatter is quiet, easy to miss in the noise of life, but moments like this are a signpost on the path. As always, much love and great success to you on your journey!
Casey O’Neill owns and runs HappyDay Farms, a small vegetable and cannabis farm north of Laytonville. He is a long time cannabis policy advocate, and was born and raised in the Bell Springs area. The preceding has been an editorial column. The Mendocino Voice has not necessarily fact-checked or copyedited this work, and it should be interpreted as the words of the author, not necessarily reflecting the opinions of The Mendocino Voice.