I’m drinking a steaming mug of coffee and gazing out over a paddock with goats munching dewy grass — the American River cutting through the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas behind them. So, it seems only perfect that Fitz Cahall’s The Dirtbag Diaries is talking about “The Successful Life” and what that really means… What is success?
Aimee Brown said in the Dirtbag Diaries podcast that it took 6,000 miles and one year to figure it out: “Success is malleable. And a successful life is what you make of it. What you define it to be.”
Here at Under Solen, we’ve traveled 700 miles this week, visiting the Conservation Alliance in Bend, Oregon, stopping by a friend’s vineyard in Napa and hanging out with the ladies of JAM Media Collective in San Francisco. And for the last couple of days, I’ve soaked up the sun and mountain air in Lotus, Calif. with my good friend Deanna Lloyd — one of the founders of ConservationNEXT.
Our trip, if nothing else, has shown us that it’s crucial to step away from the computer and connect with people on the ground and outside.
Today, Deanna and I will head to Berkley for the Western Wilderness Conference, where we will give a workshop on using new media as a tool to get people outside and protect wild places. Thanks to Deanna and the Conservation Alliance for inviting me to help out!
ConservationNEXT is the outreach arm of the Conservation Alliance, connecting individuals in the outdoor industry with conservation efforts. The movement was born from a question from Terry Tempest Williams: “What are you doing to continue the legacy of conservation?” And five committed and passionate people, including Deanna, responded to that call to action. That group dedicated themselves to creating the next generation of stewards to protect and conserve threatened wild places through social networking and on-the-ground action. Learn more about ConservationNEXT and how you can take action at conservationnext.com.
And to switch gears just a bit… How about that Snake River?!
This week, Mountain Khakis and Save Our Wild Salmon kicked off the “We Love The Snake River!” photo contest.
We’re sure you’ve got your favorite river; a pristine, wild waterway where you love to play and celebrate the outdoors. Maybe it’s right down the road from your house, or it’s on the other side of the world, a river where you experienced your most memorable travel moment. It might even be a river watershed that you spend time volunteering to protect. Wherever it is, we want to see it!
Entering is easy, and you might win some sweet pants! To submit your photo, upload the image(s) to the Save Our Wild Salmon Flickr Pool. Make sure your photo has a title and a description of why it’s your favorite river. We look forward to seeing your work and the rivers that you love!
After an incredible week visiting good friends and hanging out in gorgeous places, it’s hard not to turn your view inward and take a look at the life you’re living. What is success really?
So, think about it and I’ll leave you with this… From the Dirtbag Diaries:
When I drift off to sleep, I hope for dreams of mountains and friends, not work. Compromise is a part of life. We make sacrifices all the time to sustain the big picture. But how much can you give up in the name of career, money and comfort before you stop being successful?
Happy Friday!
