There’s a Finnish word, “sisu”, I recently encountered. Like many great words, it doesn’t have a direct translation to English. A wonderful description I heard is it names the part where you go on, after you have used up your ability to go on. Once you’ve used up your determination, your fortitude, your resilience, your moxie, your rage, your compassion. When your tank is empty, and your reserve tank is empty, and those fumes that let you somehow keep moving anyways… When those are all gone. Once you’ve used up the last shred of a shred of a shred of your stoicism and toughness, then… sisu.

“Do not lose heart. We were made for these times.” ~Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Neil made this sled 8 years ago, when we first moved here. It’s built from his old straight skis, the kind they won’t even accept anymore at a gear swap. But they are perfect, perfect, sled runners. So he fitted them to a base he built, and made a way for us to move our firewood around. Even through deep snow. Even during power outs. Usually now we would use Evie, our electric side-by-side, to help with the heavy lifting. But she’s waiting for repairs at the moment, so she’s benched for the winter. I could probably throw more fossil fuels at the problem, but that is an old song, and it is played out. So, sled it is. It turns out to be both really effective, and pretty fun!

“One of the greatest freedoms we have, is how we react to things.” ~Charlie Mackesy

This winter, and this global season, I’m trying to take regular doses of Vitamin M: Making. It’s a fortifying act. To make time, make repairs, make do, make connections, make changes, make stands, make the effort. Because inaction is a very fast road to despair. Rest is essential, but inaction can be toxic. It has a tendency to build up hopelessness in the blood.

Even when we would never choose the awful times we sometimes have to face, we can choose what we do in the face of them. We can reach for our sisu. The beginning after the end. The deep and beating wild core that goes on and on, and never gives up, at all.

Happy Friday friends 💚