why it feels good to do it yourself

Living in the country, there's nothing quite like the satisfaction of fixing things yourself. It's a feeling you just don't get from calling a repairman or buying a new one at the store. It's the pride of knowing you can take care of your own little corner of the world, a sense of self-reliance that's deeply ingrained in rural life.

For most people on this list, I don’t need to convince them of this. It’s inherent, ingrained. But why do we love to do things ourselves?

I grew up on a farm, so I learned early on that if something broke, you fixed it. My dad always said, "If you made it, you can fix it." This simple saying taught me to take pride in my work and my home. Mending a hole in the wall isn't just a chore; it's about taking care of the place you live and building something to be proud of. It's a tangible expression of your connection to your home and a reminder of the generations who came before you, shaping the land and building the structures that shelter us today.

This is a big part of country life. Of course, back in the day, people had to rely on themselves because help wasn't always easy to find. This created a culture of resourcefulness and self-sufficiency that's still alive today. We like to use our hands to create and care for things. It's more than just being handy; it's a connection to the land and the history of the people who lived here before us. It's a way to honor the traditions of hard work, ingenuity, and perseverance that define rural communities.

DIY is more than just being handy. It's a way to slow down and connect with the present moment. It's like a meditation, where you lose yourself in the task and find a sense of calm and focus. It's a break from the hustle and bustle of modern life, a chance to reconnect with the simple pleasures of creating something with your own hands. Whether you're building a table or growing tomatoes, you learn something new every time you try a project. It's like solving a puzzle, and it shows you how to look at challenges in a different way, with creativity and resilience. It builds problem-solving skills and critical thinking, which are invaluable in all areas of life.

Sharing your skills with others is also a great thing about DIY. I remember learning how to make jam from my grandma. It wasn't just about the recipe; it was about the stories she told while we worked, the memories she shared, and the connection we built over a simple task. Passing on these skills is a way to connect with others and share a piece of your family, your history, and yourself. It's about building a stronger community, one where knowledge and experience are valued and passed down from generation to generation.

DIY can also save you money, especially when everything seems to cost more these days. Fixing things yourself, growing your own food, and making your own furniture can really add up. Then you can use that money for other things you want, like education, travel, or investing in your home and property to make it even more your own. This financial freedom can create opportunities and open doors that you might not have thought possible before.

But the best thing about DIY is that it makes you feel more independent and empowered. Knowing you can take care of things yourself gives you confidence in your own abilities. And this is really what we love; the power of self-confidence, and even better, community-confidence. It's not about being alone; it's about connecting with your community and sharing your skills with others. It's about building a stronger, more self-sufficient community, one project at a time. It's about fostering a sense of shared responsibility and mutual support that makes rural life so special. The feeling of we-can-do-it trumps all.

So, the next time you have a project, give it a try yourself. You'll get a lot more out of it than you might think.