Thanksgiving | C.E. Robertson
From the hearth room:
As I sat with my cup of coffee this morning, watching the sun rise over empty fields of corn and trees devoid of leaves, I found myself contemplating the fleeting emotion of happiness. The modern world seems to place happiness as the pinnacle of human existence, and yet it seems impossible to constantly hold that emotional state. There are nights where my little boy cries all night. There are days that I’m frustrated at the lack of progress on the farm. There are late fall mornings that seem dead and lifeless. And yet, I have a deep abiding joy and contentment in my lot in life. I’m beginning to realize that satisfaction does not come from happiness, it comes from obligation.
I have an obligation to work for a living. I have an obligation to love my family. I have an obligation to care for this farm. And it’s that obligation that I’m thankful for on this Thanksgiving weekend. Because I have to ask myself: what is the alternative? Would I rather not work and live with no purpose? Would I rather not have a family to love? Would I rather not have a legacy farm to restore? Modern society will tell you that you should always pursue happiness and eschew obligation. But I have found quite the opposite in living as our ancestors did on the century farm.
According to diary entries from my great great great grandmother, they were spreading manure around the apple trees on Thanksgiving day in 1866. My guess is that spreading manure didn’t bring much happiness. But they farmed this land, raised their family, and documented each day with precision and care because the obligation gave their life purpose and satisfaction.
Embrace the joy that accompanies obligation this Thanksgiving weekend.
-C.E. Robertson
C.E. Robertson is the 6th generation on the Robertson Century Farm and serves as my master proofreader and storyteller or as he likes to be called the editor in chief.
