Attempting To Spread A Little Hope - (Chester, CA)

Well, apparently, folks are still interested in our daily activities even if it's not always exciting or necessarily different.  :)

I had no intention of stopping the writing, but maybe just not talking quite so much about the bathroom cleaning, the honey wagon, and Linda's battle with a few attitudes.  :)

Anyway, the Journal entries will continue, but I'll probably gloss over some of the daily duties unless something happens that I feel warrants some extra attention.  Or unless I do something really stupid which seems to amuse our readers.  :)

Today was my late day to start.  After cleaning the bathrooms I started to go through campsites and pick up trash.  I started with Site 1.

The guy on a motorcycle that had the site last night was gone and there was already another couple in the site.  I usually don't go through the sites once someone has already checked in, but for some reason, today I took my trash grabber and walked in.

"Hi, I just want to make sure your firepit is clean."  It was a couple about our age, and he started asking questions about the campground's occupancy and whether we were offering discounted prices due to the economy.

As the discussion progressed, he said he was a painting contractor and business is so bad everyone in his area had cut their prices by 40%.  He said he is struggling to keep his home of twelve years, he is behind on mortgage payments, services have been cut off, he had had to cancel health insurance.

It had been his dream since he left Chicago to own a home and now everything is falling apart.  They were thinking of giving it all up and moving to Alaska to find their way.  I could see this fairly young, good looking, intelligent guy was overwhelmed and in despair.

Then his focus turned to me.  As these conversations usually go, soon I was telling him we were full-time RVers.  I was explaining how we quit our jobs, sold all our stuff and have been traveling the country stopping every once in awhile to take on jobs.

The couple perked up, and once I divulged that I used to be a lawyer and accountant, the questions started coming in rapid-fire fashion.  With a big grin, I responded  "Yep, I was a real estate attorney and now I'm picking aluminum foil out of your firepit".  :)

She was nodding with every statement I made.  You could tell she had been telling him some of the same things about "stuff is just stuff" and there is more to life than owning a house.  He kept asking questions and saying he could see a twinkle in my eye.

I told him about other full-timers we know that lost everything on a business, started out in a tiny trailer, and worked their way out of debt on the road.  I told him about our website, about Workamper.com, about Caretaker.org.

By the end of our conversation, his wheels were turning.  He said their one-day camping trip was worth those few minutes we spent together.  They have a long road ahead of them, but I think they will at least have some hope that there are other alternatives and they can live a simpler life and still be happy.  :)

After leaving them, I finished gathering the trash around the campground.  Then it was time for my break before I converted to my weekend guest relations role.

I had planned that time to call a reader that has been having his own struggles.  Imagine a former Phys Ed teacher stricken with a a painful spinal disease who just lost his mother and has had numerous other setbacks.  He is low on assets and wants to travel, but his ailments are making things difficult.

David calls me his "first RV friend" and, in a touching email, asked if I could call him.  I didn't hear the "Woe is me" voice I was expecting.  I heard an intelligent guy who knows his brightness can sometimes be a hindrance as he over-anaylyzes himself into a dark hole.  Been there, done that.  :)

David asked questions.  We discussed serious topics.  He said I sounded "young" and he was expecting something different.  I responded with "You were expecting an older, deeper, wiser voice?"  We laughed.

Just now, that reminded me once again of the famous Jimmy Valvano speech on the ESPN Espy awards in 1993.  I've referred to this before and sports fans will know Jimmy V as the fiery, emotional, Italian, former coach of the North Carolina State basketball team.  Jimmy V was dying of cancer when he gave the "Don't Give Up .... Don't Ever Give Up!" speech.

Two parts of that speech always get me grounded.  First is the "three things we all should do every day".  Quote:

To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. Number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special.

And the other is a follow-up to that sentiment that includes pursuing dreams with enthusiasm.

I just got one last thing, I urge all of you, all of you, to enjoy your life, the precious moments you have. To spend each day with some laughter and some thought, to get you're emotions going. To be enthusiastic every day and as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Nothing great could be accomplished without enthusiasm," to keep your dreams alive in spite of problems whatever you have. The ability to be able to work hard for your dreams to come true, to become a reality. 

Jimmy was right.  If you laugh, think, and cry each day, it is a full day.  Couple that with enthusiasm in keeping your dreams alive in spite of problems and we have a pretty good recipe for life.  :)

I wish I would have remembered those thoughts in my conversation with David.  :)  What I did remember was something I recently saw.

Back in April, Dave Ramsey (whose common-sense approach to financial peace we used to get out of debt before full-timing), held a Town Hall For Hope.  The 90-minute program was re-run a few days ago.

Dave concluded the town hall by giving three steps to increase hope and decrease fear in these tough economic times.

1. Do something and get moving!
First, you need to get out of the house and start doing something — take a walk, go for a run, take the kids to the park, work outside in the yard. Get off the couch and turn off the TV. Whether you are unemployed or not, get your body moving — preferably out the door.

2. Avoid negativity. Avoid the gloom and doom.
The second step to increasing hope is to avoid “loser talk”: the woe-is-me, everyone-is-out-of-work-everywhere, the-sky-is-falling talk. This may sound harsh, but you may need to cut off some family members, friends or favorite news personalities for a while if they’re bringing your mood down. When you’re no longer exposed to negativity, you will find your own views and attitude changing for the better. Hopefully, over time, you’ll find your hope restored.

3. Learn how to give.
A great way to increase hope is to learn how to give again. The American people (who may be suffering an image problem right now) are known to be the greatest givers in the history of the world. Other countries turn to America when they need help. On that note, something wonderful happens to anyone who gives of themselves (time or money). When your eyes are on others and not on yourself, your problems and worries take a back seat and hope returns — even if it’s simply taking stock of our fortunes relative to what others may be experiencing. All things considered, maybe our lives aren’t so bad after all? By getting involved with charitable giving, you may just give yourself an extra energy boost!

Now Dave tends to couple a lot of his advice with his religious views.  You can choose to embrace that or reject that aspect of his approach.

But I can tell you that his simplistic approach to tackling debt and having the unbelievable liberation of being debt-free did wonders for us before we began full-timing.  And all three of the above steps do work when you are feeling hopeless about something.  Trust us on that!  :)

In finishing up my conversation with David, I told him about Jim.  Jim was an active guy riding his bike across the USA when he had an accident leaving him a paraplegic.  We met Jim in Florida back in early 2006.

At that time Jim had been a solo full-time RVer for three years.  He travels in a custom travel trailer pulled by his properly equipped van.  Talk about inspiring!

Well, I enjoyed my conversation with David and I hope it added a little light to his day.

Now, I'll finish off this entry with some RV-Dreams readers who are suffering right now, but who are experiencing quite an outpouring of the "giving" mentioned above, and who are maintaining a wonderful attitude knowing there are other less fortunate folks out there.

Keith & Donna's (Green2GoRV) historical home burned on July 9.  You can read about the tragedy and how people are coming to their assistance on their blog.

They are currently living in their motorhome calling it "Camp Recovery".  These are wonderful people who we met at last June's Rally.  They were some of the many that volunteered their time for us during that event.  We know, with the outpouring from friends and neighbors and their RV-Dreams Family, they will get through this just fine.

Well, I'll wrap up this long Journal entry.  Times are tough out there, but there is always hope and inspiration around every corner.  We are blessed to be able to offer a little of both once in awhile.  :)

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Comments

[Bill Malefyt]

Thanks Howard for the words of encouragement! I can always count on you to uplift my spirits just by reading your daily post. You hit a home run for me today! We haven't given up our dream to hit the road in spite of some health and financial issues over the last couple of years. We are planning on selling our condo by next spring and buying our fist 5th wheel and truck so we can begin living our rv-dream. Thanks Howard for all that you and Linda do for all of us in the RV-Dreams family!

Bill

[Mike Jones]

Howard, I enjoyed your journal today because it addresses something that we feel very strong about. In our blog yesterday I wrote about being free to give of ourselves and that is what you and Linda are doing. kudos to both of you. Thanks for the wonderful thoughts about living to the fullest.
Mike Jones

[Susan]

Look where that "daily duty" of trash pick-up got you today!

We are all renewed again!
Great job Howard.....:-)

[andree foucault]

Its a pleasure to read you Howard! My guess is that you dont realise how much people you help. I am sure that what you see is just the tip of the iceberg.

Very good job!

[Pam]

Wow Howard you hit the nail on the head again. We have had a lot of stuff happen to us lately and your post reminded me that most of my worries are pretty small compared to others. Yes our car broke down on Friday no fixing it but we do have our truck and we will some how get something else to commute with, the septic pump went out a few months ago but we got it fixed not much left in savings anymore but we can use the bathroom. So it really is all in how you look at your circumstances and we all have a choice we just need to be happy with the choice. Thanks for all of the work you do on your web site. Someday I hope we will meet. In the mean time travel safe and always know that you both are in my prayers.

Oly Wa (Pam)

[John Hatch]

Where would that couple be right now had you not stopped to pick aluminum foil out of the fire pit and calling David surely made his day, I read all the blogs on my blog everyday and was worried about him. Thanks for ALL you do Howard and Linda.

Stay Safe

[Abase]

Great post. I love Uncle Dave (Ramsey). Most of us lived though Jimmy Carter years, we can live though this too.

[Rod Ivers]

Nice uplifting post! You keep writing the daily post as you see fit, and we'll keep readin em!

[dream reachers]

It is great that you are bringing encouragment to those you meet. Dave Ramseys' 3 points plus his religious views can make a difference in peoples lives. Through giving you receive blessings, and being debt free is good advise. Keep on sharing Howard

[Darby Corwin]

Howard I don't think you really know how much good you do with your RV Dreams Journal, that was a great post. I am sure many got a lot out of it. I know I did. You know it is easy to get down when things are looking so bad but we tend to forget just how well we have it. We are so lucky to have been born in the USA instead of some third world country. I know I thank the Lord every night for what he has given me. PLease keep up the good work, you are making a lot of people happy.

[Keith Green]

Howard and Linda: We so much appreciate the concern of you guys and all the RV Dreamers. The outpouring of concern, thoughts and prayers have been overwhelming.
We are recovering slowly but surely, and like they say... You can't keep a good man (and lady) down.

Thanks again ..

Keith & Donna
kpoppa & nonna

[Joe Pitman]

Howard...reading your journal and hearing you talk about working at the park and still having fun is an inspiration to those out there looking for another lifestyle to follow. I think that is what RV-Dreams is all about...isn't it? Keep up the good work.

[Dennis Beaman]

Howard, You have many gifts and you are using them well. Thankyou for sharing them with us.
Dennie