There was a time in my life when I lived on a farm.
Looking back, I don't think I realised how much that period would change me.
At the time, it simply felt like everyday life.
Now I understand that it taught me lessons I still carry with me today.
One of the biggest things I learned was to appreciate nature.
Living on a farm meant I spent far more time outside than I do now.
Fresh air wasn't something I had to make time for—it was simply part of my day.
Whether I was walking around the property or spending time with my two large dogs, I was constantly moving.
Without even thinking about it, I stayed active.
Looking back, I realise that my lifestyle was naturally healthier.
I didn't have to remind myself to go for a walk.
Life itself kept me moving.
Another thing I learned was patience.
On a farm, not everything happens instantly.
Plants grow in their own time.
Animals have their own routines.
Nature follows its own rhythm, and there's nothing you can do to rush it.
I think that's a beautiful lesson.
We live in a world where everyone wants everything immediately.
Living on a farm taught me that some of the best things in life simply take time.
It also deepened my love for animals.
I've always been an animal lover, but living so close to nature made me appreciate them even more.
Animals don't care what you're wearing.
They don't judge you.
They simply respond to the way you treat them.
That's something people can learn from.
When I compare my life then to my life now, they're very different.
Today I live in an apartment.
I have to make a conscious effort to go outside, exercise and stay active.
Back then, movement was just part of my everyday life.
Do I miss living on a farm?
Sometimes, yes.
I miss the peace.
The space.
The fresh air.
The feeling of being surrounded by nature.
But more than anything, I'm grateful that I experienced it.
Because living on a farm taught me that happiness isn't always found in busy cities or expensive things.
Sometimes it's found in a quiet morning.
A long walk with your dogs.
The sound of birds singing.
And simply being surrounded by nature.
Those are lessons I'll never forget.
Love,
Shavida
