Est. 1998

"Be one, and if ye are not one, ye are not mine" ~Doctrine & Covenants 38:27

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Small town or Big City?

Ok, so lately the family has been discussing the CONS (& pros) to life in Star Valley...what do you think? Here are some of my thoughts...
Last weekend, Cal & I traveled to Logan for Roger's funeral (Cal's step-dad). Roger died of a massive heart attack due to CHF...apparently he had no idea how bad his heart was. Had he gone to the doctor after Suni's recommendation, he would probably still be here now. It got me thinking about the fact that he died at 63 years of age, with no warning. He seemed very healthy and active. He was always out and about, ate healthy, was thin and active.
Sitting there at the funeral, listening to the speakers talk about the life Roger lived, and seeing his children, still young parents, mourn their loss, I realized that life really is very short. His oldest grandchild is only about 12 years old. Most of his grandchildren will never really know or remember him. You never know when you will die, or when your loved ones will die. I started to think about what my life had told those around me, and even wondered what my friends and family would say about me at my funeral. I know I'm still young and that death should not be close by, but who knows? I started evaluating my priorities and what really matters.
So, back to the Star Valley question. I guess what I'm asking is, what does the "city life" offer that Star Valley, or any small town, does not offer? It's obvious...restaurants, movies, shopping, easier accessibility to venues, entertainment, and airports.
Now, my question is, what does the "Star Valley life" have to offer that you can't get in the city?
Fresh air, no traffic, beautiful mountains, rivers, canyons, & wildlife in your backyard. A place to feel safe, where you know everyone, and they know you. A place where the summers are perfect and you can have your endless share of camping, hiking, biking and fishing. Where winters are long, but they offer snowmobiling like nowhere else, sledding, skiing and beautiful Christmas trees for choopping down. There are good hometown people with morals, and you feel like they think the same way you do. There is a high population of church members, and nobody seems to care about having a fancy sportscar or luxurious lifestyle.
A couple of years ago, when we decided to move to SV, I thought it would be a cure all for life's problems...simplify, force yourself to take a step back. It reminds me of a girl I met a few months back who told me she and her husband moved to the valley to recover from drug addiction. But what I've realized since then, is that if you search for happiness on the outside, you will never find it. You can't move somewhere to make yourself happier. If you aren't happy where you live, the geography is just the excuse you've chosen to blame for the problem. The real problem is inside. If you can find peace and joy living in a small home, in a small town, without a lot of material wealth, you will most likely be happier than those living in a huge house with a fancy car with no inner joy, because they have allowed "things" to clutter their hearts. Now, don't think for a minute that I am saying you should not have a fancy house, car etc. I am the last person who will say that I would be satisfied staying in this shoebox for the rest of my life. But there is a difference between saying "happy" and "satisfied." If you find joy in life, and are truly happy without material wealth, I say it's a great time to acquire material wealth. True wealth is being whole emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially and intellectually. There are plenty of rich, unhappy people. The ones I admire, are those in meager circumstances who have joy.
I can truly say that right now, I am happy. I can look at my kids and my husband and say, "I can't imagine having a better family or a better life." I look at certain material possessions and think it would be fun and more comfortable to have them, but I know deep down that joy does not come from things or shopping or movies. Neither does "simplifying" by moving to a small down in Wyoming. If you move somewhere new seeking for happiness, you will always be doing just that.
So, my point is, it wasn't my move to Star Valley that made me happy. It was my decision to be happy and feel gratitude for my blessings that made me start to feel peace. I can honestly say that the blessings multiply when you start counting them.
So, I ask all of you to consider the question, are you truly happy inside? If you were asked to leave all of your material possessions, just like the early Saints, could you do it? With a happy heart?

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Eveyones jealous of you Kenz. Only a select few have the opportunity to live in Star Valley. I relate it to the Celestial Kingdon, only Gods chosen will reside there.

Steve said...

Wow, maybe you should write a book on this. Just let it out! I think Star Valley is a great place. There's no better place to be for outdoor stuff. Winters are long, but I guess you get used to it. Okay, you've talked me into it. I'm moving up there after I graduate law school.

Anonymous said...

Excellent points Mckenzie and very well said. It's not where you live but how you live that determines your joy. No matter where you live; if you choose not to take advantage of what that place has to offer, you won't be as happy. If you love the outdoors, there is no better place to live than Star Valley Wyoming. By the way Steve, we all know by now who runs the show in your household, so I think we can pretty well figure out that you will never be living anywhere more than 15 minutes from a mall.

Steve said...

Okay, fair enough. I'll accept that comment as a retaliation to my fat joke.

Anonymous said...

We are?

PS Kevin, I do not shop that much, despite what you think and I did not grow up that close to great shopping so easy on the "high maintenance" assumptions.

Anonymous said...

I'd have to disagree w/ Kevin, I've been to Star Valley and I have to say that Kalispell, Montana is a better place to live than Star Valley for all those outdoor lovers.

Ben said...

The best attribute of Star Valley is the fact that it is home to the number one business in the driver recruiting industry - DRIVERS CHOICE SERVICES USA.

Anonymous said...

McKenzie,
I really enjoyed reading this and found it very insightful. With Kamron and I searching for our new "home" right now, alot of your comments were perfect timing for me. I completely agree that true happiness comes (and starts) from within. I think hapiness is a daily choice.

Anonymous said...

Steve, leave Marrissa and move to SV
Kevin, well put.
Marissa, Steve's leaving you to live in SV.
Dionne, go have another kid.
Ben, we have no more positions available at DCS so stop kissing butt
Heidi, just buy a damn house.

Anonymous said...

I feel like I might be butting in a little, but wasn't McKenzie's point about Happiness and Gratitude and Peace? I know you're all kidding right? McKenzie, you should be writing editorials or feature pieces for the paper. I thought it was insightful. You go girl! Love you all, Marla

Anonymous said...

McKenzie, how wonderful to understand and have that wisdom, it often doesn't come until much later. You are exceptional! Let me know the next time your coming to Utah....