00:00CLOSER TO OURSELVES
00:02Most of us hold beliefs in the divine, the supernatural, and the
00:08un-understandable, spiritual, or the profound, for a variety of reasons.
00:15Living of the Great may allow us to come closer to those beliefs or to ourselves.
00:20I believe few things may bring life-changing reflection upon us as
00:23isolation, scarcity, deep sacrifice, and bold trust in our nature,
00:28our teammates, and forces outside of our control.
00:32I believe when we depend less on the abundant commodities that surround us,
00:36when we miss a meal, or when we get away from our assurances,
00:40something within us is allowed to breathe and grow.
00:43A peace, a clarity, a spirit is nourished.
00:46Being imprisoned, impoverished, isolated, malnourished, and detached
00:50all allow us that inner nourishment, for reasons I don't fully understand.
00:55Some may call it living on the edge, living within your means, or drawing
00:59self-boundaries and discipline.
01:02Some recognize it as spiritual and divine.
01:05I believe these experiences, although not permanent, bring a new level of depth
01:09in most areas of our lives.
01:11Living off the grid may grow to be that in your life which brings you detached
01:15satisfaction, fulfillment, and unfettered trust in you, your community, and that in
01:21which you believe.
01:23At times, I call it being closer to God.
01:26Other times, I call it being closer to myself.
01:30Sometimes, I just accept I don't understand it, and I go with the currents.
01:34Other times, I feel in sync with that universe and forge against much.
01:39Ultimately, I believe a balance must be struck, and it seems it's best for us to remain in
01:45the middle, remain in the struggle, to improve our forever and perfect nature, our environments,
01:51and our behaviors.
01:52Closer to God.
01:56Don't stop reading if you are not religious.
01:59This is not meant to be only for the pious.
02:01We are all believers in different things.
02:04But, religious or not, I believe that living off the grid brings you closer to something
02:09much greater than yourself, whatever that may be in your life, to a more selfless, independent,
02:16caring, fair, helping, and compassionate version of you.
02:19Simply, I believe it brings you closer to a more wholesome version of you, in all the
02:25good ways.
02:26For example, living off the grid turns away from excess, greed, materialism, selfishness,
02:32avarice, hate, unfairness, anger, stress, over-dependence, and more.
02:37So, in turn, you are forced to use more of your positive traits.
02:41Simply, turn to the positive while avoiding the negative.
02:44I believe we become better individuals, in my words, closer to God.
02:48But, believer or not, these righteous actions will help you be happier and secure a better
02:54future and legacy for the world and yourself.
02:57I am not especially religious, and like all, I have had many moments of confusion, doubt,
03:03and turmoil in my personal spiritual and psychological life.
03:07But, I have found that depending on artificial and material excess, gives you only superficial
03:12glimpses of what is really important, each other, your neighbor.
03:17By taking care of your environment, leaving bread on the table for others, and only depending
03:23on that which is essential to health, we become more like our ideas of God, we take care of
03:28our neighbor.
03:29And, I believe the best among us take care of our neighbor first.
03:34Believer or not, a righteous God, as your righteous neighbors, will look upon your deeds,
03:39and not your piety.
03:41For the good you do unto others is what will make you better.
03:44The excesses you reject are what give you value.
03:48The actions you take to help are what will help you in turn.
03:51These are the true benefits of living sustainably, living away from society's many traps to
03:57bondage, living off the grid.
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