“Million Dollar Highway” | San Juan Mountain Range, Colorado

It’s okay if all you did today was survive.

Art by Liberal Jane

Ubuntu

ancient African word meaning ‘’I am what I am because of who we all are.’’ 

I don’t think self-neutrality should always be treated as a stepping stone on the way to a commodified form of self-love. Sometimes, perhaps, self-neutrality is enough on its own, and might even be more helpful.

Example:

“I feel worthless” doesn’t need to become “I have value.” Instead, it would honestly be healthier to realize that “value” is a vague concept with little to no bearing on your right to exist.

“I’m useless,” doesn’t need to become “I have potential.” Who honestly gives a fuck if you have potential, except for people who want to use that potential for their own gain? We don’t exist to be a vessel for potential. We exist merely because we were born to exist.

“My life has no purpose,” doesn’t mean you need to find an all-consuming passion to give your life meaning. Life doesn’t really need to have a grand meaning, that’s just something human beings decided. You can still live a fulfilling life just by focusing on what you like now.

“I’m nobody.” Why do you need to “be someone” in the first place?? Everyone is always trying to be somebody, what’s so bad with just enjoying yourself and your friends and good food and laughs, without any expectation of being a person that others can identify and judge?

Conclusion: Self-love can have many benefits, but sometimes it has foundations in toxic productivity culture, capitalistic ideals, and an unhealthy pressure for us to be socially and financially valuable. In those situations, it’s best to just throw away the whole suitcase and realize that you don’t need to be judging your existence based on made-up ideals.

Snodgrass Mountain

February 20, 2017 (Almost a year ago)

Crested Butte, Colorado

Chad and Kat were visiting us out from Northern Virginia for President’s Day Weekend 2017. We first went to Monarch for them to ski (and I on the Continental Divide trail to snowshoe...another day for that post). So Crested Butte it was, as they had come for the downhill skiing experience of the Western Slope. Glade and I were excommunicated from our family (Nathan) and our friends (Chad and Kat) re: we don’t downhill ski. In the winter wonderland of Crested Butte, however, there is no shortage of nordic sporta dventures to partake in. With an intense need to fill the time with my own exercise, Glade and I headed to Snodgrass Mountain. Snodgrass Mountain is a great trail in multiple seasons. It’s so simple to get to-and I’m directionally challenged. After you pass the ski resort on your right, you’ll see a horse-staging area on your left. Shortly after this is the Snodgrass Mountain Trailhead. This is the about hte last point on the road before it becomes a dirt road. 

I’ve only had the pleasure of doing it once in the winter and another time in the early Spring (mid June. June 17, 2016, actually. So most would consider that summer. Seasons are different in the mountains, lol). It’s a wonderful trail for snowshoeing and cross country skiing alike. The trail is lined with aspen so I’ve heard about the wonders of the hike during the fall (let’s also revisit what this means in the mountains. “Fall”= September 15-September 25. So...again, this is off base from what one generally thinks of Fall). The leaves are changing and what not. Okay and let me get back to the Spring. The wildflowers are pretty insane up on that mountain as well. But if you’re wanting the best wildflowers? Your best bet would be to go some time between late July and mid August. Not that in June there aren’t still flowers. But it’s not the ridiculous show that Crested Butte most certainly will have in store with you if you’re patient enough to wait until the next season (3 weeks tops?). This trail also serves as a mountain biking trail, so just keep that in mind when hiking (off leash most likely--it’s the Western Slope, it’s what we do!) with your furry friends. 

There’s no better place to celebrate National Fishing and Boating Week than America’s public waters. On rivers, lakes, ponds, wetlands and oceans, you can paddle thrilling whitewater or float your way to relaxation. Grab your rod and reel (and maybe a friend) and try to hook the big one. Whatever you do, make a splash. Photo of Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area in Colorado by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management. #FindYourWay

Great idea but would use different cheese!!

Grilled Cheese Bread Bowl 

Recipe under the cut!

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