Wherever you go, there you are
Wherever you go, there you are
definitiveness of purpose amidst the chaos
It’s way more exciting to let life surprise you.
I’ve been tremendously surprised at the miracles that have appeared in the last week alone since I shared our family’s latest news. Thank you to all who have come to support us on this journey. We will always be provided for, this much I know is true.
Napoleon Hill says in his book, Think and Grow Rich…
“God seems to throw himself on the side of the people who know exactly what they want, if they are determined to get just that.”
Definitiveness of purpose is the name of the game here. I hold my purpose tightly, and everything else loosely, not knowing exactly how things will materialize, but knowing it will.
When we set out for the tiny life, I think there was some naivety in believing the perfectly designed small-space would make us happier. Less to take care of, more time to work on our passions. But let me tell you, if you’ve got kids, it doesn’t matter if you have 300 square-feet or 3,000…THEY WILL FIND YOU. Passions be gone. You’re too busy making snacks, helping with shoes, wiping butts. ALL THE THINGS.
Wherever you go, there THEY ARE. So no matter where you go, you have to do that inner work to not lose yourself, find peace, and control your state of mind.
While on a date with the hubs last night, it struck me… Freestory Village isn’t going to work if it’s all about kids exploring and learning with wonder in nature while their parents just sit in a glorified coffee-house doing reactionary work, mindlessly tapping away at their laptops for 3 hours. There’s nothing like adult responsibilities hovering over you to extinguish that fire in your belly. Adults need to reconnect with their purpose and fire up their passion for living once again. I want our village to re-ignite that sense of purpose for people of all ages. The kids are watching. We set the stage.
So how does someone actually know their purpose? I think it’s revealed to us whenever we’re using our unique gifts.
For me, I was 8 years old when my unique gifts started to emerge.
When I was in the third grade, I remember we were asked to write an advertisement for a product and present it. I was ALL in. I wrote my first jingle for a fictitious cereal brand called “Crispy Corn” (sounds appetizing, right?) and sang it in a twang accent in front of the entire 3rd/4th split classroom. The class was laughing so hard… I knew I found my calling.
Fast forward to 4th grade, I ran for student council, mainly because I wanted to write a speech and win. My friends even “hired” me to write their speeches. By 10 years old, I was already a campaign manager for elementary school politicians. By 6th grade, I ran for Student Body President by writing and performing a custom speech-song titled “Please Vote for Me, Manzanita,” sung to the tune of “Don’t cry for me Argentina,” from Evita. I even threw up my arms goal-post style at the end. I won.
Around the same time, I found my love for sports. I could out-run most of the boys in my class, and hold my own on the basketball court. Even on the court I was still a “performer,” let’s just say I took a more Dennis Rodman approach to the game and always fouled-out. Somehow I fell trap to the belief that the two identities, jock vs. performer, couldn’t co-exist. Maybe I watched too much Saved by The Bell? So I moved through middle school and high school just wanting to blend in. The athlete route seemed safer.
But I never lost sight of the desire to work in advertising. I was always memorizing commercial jingles or analyzing clever copy on billboards. So I went to college specifically for advertising, and four years later, I landed my first job in advertising, and progressed on that path for 13 years. I never looked back. It was a fabulous career that taught me to so much about business, from consumer pyschology, financial planning, leadership, go-to-market plans and most importantly, the art of the pitch. Man, do I love a good pitch!
And here I am gearing up for some of the biggest and most important pitching in my life…to bring in money for this business. We’re going to need $,$$$,$$$ to properly build this nature-haven for outdoor learners, and I am excited to bring it in and bless so many people seeking alternative ways to work and learn amongst nature & community.
When I set my eyes on something, I very rarely veer. I’ll see it through or I’ll die trying.
My mother is probably SO relieved to see my determined and relentless attributes find a new outlet. Take heart parents of strong-willed children, your kid just needs to find meaningful work and their stubborn-ass personality will finally give you a break.
I am committed to this journey because I am committed to YOU. You deserve a better way to live and learn. One that reconnects you to your purpose, that lights a fire in your belly and allows your kids to see the wonder that they experience every day doesn’t just die off when you become an adult. Again, the kids are watching. We set the stage.
Recent events in the news have made me so thankful I chose to homeschool. Everyone deserves to feel safe, loved, and I’ll add, INSPIRED. Humans can’t be inspired when they’re living in fear.
My husband, and business partner, said this week that he thought our kids were so amazing because they are given so much love, safety and space to be confident and explore who they are. I don’t want my kids to become teens and think they have to change their path because they’re looking over their shoulder trying to fit in.
Any runner knows, you can’t win a race looking over your shoulder. You’ll lose speed and others will pass you.
Life is more rewarding when you stop caring about first place and you start caring about PR-ing in your race. (PR = personal record)
Run your OWN race and run it well.
If you’re passionate about living a purpose-driven life and you want the same for your kids, come join us on this journey to RETHINK EVERYTHING and launch the first co-working space meets outdoor education program in the back hills of Ventura-Malibu. There will be many other local chapters to launch one day, but for now, we feel called to start in the South LA/North Ventura, Santa Monica Mountain Range and believe the right land and founding members will appear there.
If that’s you, get in touch.
We will be seeking investment, members, and fellow supporters all summer long. I’d like to say we will be in a place to launch some sort of MVP (minimum viable product), in the fall, but I am at the mercy of a greater plan unfolding and realize I don’t control the timelines anymore.
Peace out!
-Brooke
805-914-7537 | Brooke@freestory.co
P.S. Here’s a fun “find your purpose” exercise… Take a moment and think back to the earliest time when you felt alive, proud of your work and your heart cried out, GIVE ME MORE! Then ask yourself, how can I use these gifts to add value to other people’s lives? What can I offer that other people need? See what comes to mind. Then journal, pray, be silent, and let the clarity unfold from there.
P.P.S Make sure to check out past newsletters to get a better idea of what we’re creating with Freestory Village (placeholder name for now). In short, its like WeWork meets Forest School for people of all ages. We’re on a mission to RETHINK EVERYTHING and help people live less hurried lives and find a new way to work and learn, in nature. We are in search of investors in traditional and non-traditional senses. Traditional = Early Stage Capital. Non-Traditional = Land, resources, and skills. All investments at this stage will be finalized via SAFE Docs (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) or convertible loan agreements.