Yin and Yang

I operate in the realm of feelings. Unidentified pangs of nostalgia often radiate from deep in my core. Witnessing very simple things can bring me great joy just as easily as they can send me into a deep sadness. When asked a straightforward question like “why do you feel that way?” I often don’t have a concrete answer: “I just do.” And yet I am a planner, a problem-solver, and a list-maker. I love post-it notes, labels, and color coding … type A through and through.

Caroline "helps" Dad repoint the antique brickwork at the farm in 1987

I’m sure I come by this ego dichotomy naturally. My father was an engineer and an artist, an introvert who could charm anyone he met, and a tough guy who loved his daughters fiercely. As a child, Dad was my person; as strict and intimidating as he could be, somehow he always knew what I needed when I was at my lowest. He drove me crazy at times later in my life, and I still don’t feel like I will ever fully understand him, but I miss him so much it aches in my bones.

Growing up, the farm was a place of contradictions. It was a place for solitude, yet Dad loved to throw an epic party and pull out all the stops. The place was an homage to the past while providing exactly what we needed for our future. To me, our farm is full of memories and potential. My ideal is to share these all with you in the hopes that something here connects with you as well. But there are places at the farm that still feel too tender to share with anyone but my sister, spaces where the ghosts of my memories still dance and flit about the air.

Are these seemingly conflicting traits a liability or an asset? I guess it depends on what you’re looking for. A person might not move as nimbly through life when conflicting motives and desires are present. A business might not grow as quickly when taking all perspectives into account. But does bigger and faster always need to be the goal? Smaller and slower might just be the way to preserve the past with an eye to the future. It might also be a way to sustain the soul in the process.

We all have our own dichotomies and contradictions; it’s what makes us interesting, dynamic, and human. Even at Working House, we have our own contradiction: “old things, new dreams," committed to preserving the past with the hope of sustaining our future. At this moment, Meredith and I are exploring the push and pull between sharing and protecting, between remembering and dreaming. As we have pondered our purpose and path, we still believe we are in the right place: exactly where we need to be. Thank you for being here with us.