Change of plans, change of perspective

By Daniel Hayes of Fergus Falls

The cliché “life happens after you have made other plans” rings very true sometimes. Happenings, surprise happenings, are common in both the city or country. I came to Otter Tail County in 2017 from the Metropolis, specifically St. Paul. Perhaps you the reader have spent your entire life in northwestern Minnesota or another rural area, but retiring brings the same hopes no matter if you are from New York City, St. Paul, or Dalton, Minn. There are hopes, dreams, and serious plans for the changes ahead.

For me, it was to be an active lifestyle full of the things I missed in city life – chainsaws, raising goats and chickens, three dogs in the yard by water, woods, and amber waves of grain. A place away to fish, hunt, and golf anytime I wanted. I imagined building a tree house for my grandkids with my bare hands with the wood I had just cut down. For you native rural folks, this would be just a continuation of what you have enjoyed for many years.

Then the surprise happening comes. This an event we can all relate to as I continue my story, actually somewhat of a testimony. For me the “event” came one short year after relocating, with a diagnosis of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. There were CAT scans, blood tests, successful treatment, etc., followed by a period of recovery from this unexpected trauma. Again, for me and maybe others, this was just the beginning of months and years (eight years for me) of one malady after another... some serious, others not, some even life threatening. I got to the point of saying, “Job has nothing on me.” I actually said to a doctor once, “I just don’t know why I am still alive.” He replied, “Neither do I.” We had a good laugh.

I didn’t come to the country to “drive life into a corner.” I came to live an adventurous, active life, but now I thank God that I had the chance to become a different kind of country boy. I finally realized after all my fits of anger, depression, and driving my family, friends and neighbors crazy that I could experience the wonders of rural living any day of the week. I could walk out of my house and see a chipmunk scoot by, or birds, butterflies, and rabbits cross my path randomly. I enjoyed wonderful, sometimes amazing, sunrises and sunsets nearly every day, not just a rare peak between buildings on rare occasions in the Metropolis. And, of course, the chance to meet people that had the time to help and be friendly, showing me it was possible to slow down and smell the flowers.

So while my journey, if you will, has been difficult, I now can take some comfort from realizing that I am not the only one and that’s the reason I want to share my story publicly. I would also like to share some of my insights as of late that have helped me and hopefully may encourage you the reader. The phrase “you’re better than that” came to my attention recently. There have been times in my life, certainly in my childhood, after encountering a problem or disappointment when I acted out in anger or inappropriately that I heard the words from mother, father, teachers, or preacher, “You’re better than that.” Indeed we are all created “better than that.” All I learned about faith, grace, and never giving up as a child has brought me this far and will continue to see me through whatever life may bring – surprise happenings and all. I believe for me the rest is yet to come.