Good morning friend,
This week’s life lesson is drawn from Susanna Moodie’s “Roughing It in The Bush: or, Forest Life in Canada” book.
When Susanna Moodie arrived in Upper Canada (now Ontario) in 1832, she and her husband John expected fertile land, prosperity, and comfort; they were shocked to discover dense forests, isolation, and endless toil.
Twenty years later, she published a brutally honest memoir and warning to would-be settlers.
Despite the difficulties encountered, over time, she learned to adapt: to garden, to preserve food, to accept hardships as part of life. By releasing her illusions of an “easy” new world, she gained clarity and survival skills.
Her lesson is timeless: life rarely matches our expectations; growth comes when we accept reality and adapt.
Three actions you can take today:
- Identify one false expectation.
Ask yourself: “Am I clinging to an ideal that reality doesn’t match reality?” Write it down.
- Shift from “should” to “is.”
Replace thoughts like “It should be easier” with “This is what it is; how can I work with it?”
- Practice one act of acceptance.
Whether it’s a delayed plan, a messy space, or a difficult member of your organization, you can pause, accept it as it is, and choose your response calmly.
Susanna Moodie’s story reminds us that disappointment is inevitable when we cling to unrealistic visions. In her book, we learn that freedom and strength come from releasing illusion and embracing reality.
Or, as we might put it today: Stop fighting “what should be” and start working with “what is.”
All the best!
Alex Rășcanu
P.S. I look forward to seeing you at one of the upcoming events.
P.P.S. If someone forwarded you this e-newsletter and you’d like to subscribe, you can do so here.
Leave a Reply