Getting Dirty.

Dirty.

Despite my urban preferences, I do not mind hard work. In fact, getting my hands (or feet) dirty is at times very rewarding. Manual labor has its place I feel, and many of us have gotten too complacent about it.

I recently trekked back out to eastern WA to help out on some property a friend’s mother lives on. I was out last year to help finish up some projects with the property (and the main house/cabin) and enjoyed myself immensely. It was long days with hard work, but it was really rewarding. The property is also in the middle of nowhere, so cell signals, internet access, television is not so easily accessible. The region is gorgeous, and the property is completely off the grid, utilizing solar and propane.

As a student for the past year or so, I haven’t worked much, if any. A majority of my previous work has been of the non-manual sort as well. The time I have spent engaging in manual labor has been nice though. I’ve done cleaning and overnight stocking positions, as well as the overnight cleanup shift at a foundry and working at a hydroponic sprout company. All of these positions were great short-term solutions, but longer term, not really my style.

I don’t mind getting dirty, but I realize it’s something I want to be optionally engaged in. I love the rewards of manual labor (like landscaping the house back in Illinois), but I don’t want it to be a job. Part of the reason I do enjoy it is because it is by choice. Sunday was made so much better by grabbing a shovel and attacking a pile of dirt that needed to be moved. My own self-therapy involves cleaning my apartment, a very manual process. I just feel so connected and grounded when engaged in physical labor.

I find it fascinating that we all tend to shy away from anything remotely physical. Generally speaking, we don’t walk unless we have to, we prefer sitting to standing, we’d rather someone else to do the physical work. I’m no better at times, but I can usually nudge myself into it. It helps that I know I’ll feel good after, even if sore or wounded, and that the cleansing, connected feeling associated with the work is worth the effort. So, when all is done, I can peel off my socks, see that layer of dirt, and feel proud of what I have accomplished.