A Philosopher’s Adventure
Episode #1 - First Days of a Shared Journey
Part of my personal philosophy is to “find inspiration”; one of those places is the YouTube Channel for Martijn Doolaard. This channel is about a traveler who has found a homestead in the Italian Alps. He was in search of a project, and that project takes the form of two cabins, or barns as he calls them, and the process of turning them into livable buildings. I find this channel so inspiring because it puts my mind in a place where the creativity lurking in my mind can escape without the filter of life blocking its flow.
It starts with the music, which is always amazing. The music is unlike anything that we run into on a day-to-day basis. We don’t run into this kind of music at a restaurant or running errands. This isn’t part of my playlist when I’m driving around. The music puts my mind in a different place, and to reinforce that mindset, we are presented with a beautiful overview of the valley in which Martijn lives.
I see this view, and I want to smell the air. I want to transport myself out of my suburban life and feel what this valley must feel like for a day. Early in the episode, Martijn talks about his plan for the property. I find myself excited about the possibility of the homestead. I’m writing this as episode 83 has been released, so I know where the homestead is going, but I want to be part of the idea of watching a living being built on the side of a mountain, in peace and harmony with nature. I can’t physically do it myself at this point in my life, but I am more than happy to go along for the ride via this story.
The greatest lesson I’ve taken to date is the result of persistent effort over a long period of time. I struggle with my writing when I must take more than a few days off for whatever reason. I find it difficult to get the engine to turn over with the same energy I had before a break. When I see the progress of this homestead over the course of what is now two years, I remind myself that persistent effort rewards. There are times when that effort needs to be focused on taking a break, and just as Martijn can have a tool break or not have the right tool for the job, there is always something I can do to move my own story forward.
We meet our first character, and it’s the trailer Martijn uses for everything in this story of his life. I’ve grown this weird attachment to this trailer over the course of the series. This tool, along with his car, makes life on the mountain possible. When we get into the lumber deliveries, you will see what I’m talking about. This trailer is a great example of the tools in our lives that make our lives easier. What can we use those tools for, and what great tool investments can we make for ourselves?
Johannes is the “Austrian neighbor” Martijn mentions in this episode, and I really like Johannes. He is the kind of neighbor we all want. Pleasant to be around, helpful, and always willing to lend a hand. It is easy to imagine why he is so willing. He knows what life is like on the mountain and how difficult those early days can be. He plays a pleasant role over the course of this story and even gets his own episode at one point.
I take a lot from this series in my own way, and I hope you find your own meaning as well. I think something that can be appreciated by all is the cinematic quality of the landscape shots we see in every episode. There is a moment when we get to listen to the wind in the trees. How often do we take the time to listen to the wind in the trees at home, assuming you have trees near where you live? I feel like the shot is trying to tell me that this is the story of a person and the world they are part of rather than the story of a man surviving against the forces of nature. There is respect in the way this story is presented. There is a lesson in that. How do we see ourselves in contrast to that which is around us? Are we working with or against all that surrounds us, and what influences those decisions?
Building on the themes we will see over time, one of the trailer lights breaks, and we see Martijn take the moment in stride. There is a calmness to all the challenges, large and small, we will see along the way. There might be an internal panic when things happen, and you could say it’s easier to be chill about everything when you’re on the mountain, but this is Nature, and it does not care. The ability to persevere when things break is important to life on the mountain. The internal struggle is not as important as the outward appearance. We have a lot of influence on those around us when we use calmness to approach anything. I don’t believe panic should be extinguished. I think people can learn to process their panic internally and come to decisions calmly and collectedly. That requires the rest of society to provide that space and know when to ask for answers or understand what someone is processing. That’s a lofty expectation of people but that way of thinking starts with an example like this. It starts with something small that doesn’t turn into something big. It’s the experience of a situation where the outcome is more relaxed than it ever has been, and people thinking about why the panic and drama of old are no longer there. As a species, we have a long way to go, but stories like that are the stepping stones.
We eventually move into the cabin, and Martijn takes a broom to the floor. There is a power to keeping your space clear. I know I write better when my desk is “tidy”. We all have different definitions of tidy, but we see in this episode how a space looks before and after taking the time to get the worst of the mess cleaned up. Martijn can now cook and work in his cabin. He even takes the time to move in a wood stove. I love this project because it shows the trial and error of what his new life offers. The lesson around trial and error is that life comes with its ups and downs, and it might be easier to take all that in stride as you work through the problem you’re trying to solve. In this case, Martijn is trying to solve a cold living space. If, like me, you have recently been laid off (at the time of writing), the solution will be largely more out of your hands. I don’t want to place an idealized Italian Alps blanket over our lives. The lives we lead are vastly different, and the problems we face are more complex. What I want you to take from this are the partial lessons and inspirations gained by watching this story unfold. Enjoy the views along the way and be in a place of peace as we go through this series together.
The first episode ends with Martijn sitting on a rock outside with a bowl of oatmeal, grapes, and coffee. The full view of the valley in front of him. It's a reminder of why he is here in the first place.
CHR;)
