For the past six months, Iāve been feelingā¦ restless. The pandemic aside, Iām at a place in my writing career where I could go in many directions, but Iām not sure what the right path is. Iāve put energy into exploring various avenues, everything from online courses with sales funnels to starting a podcast and other content streams.
Nothing feels right yet. Itās also complicated that I wear so many hats (and not just because itās been -35ĀŗC here all week š„¶)ā¦ I feel like Iām working in too many directions.
That leads me to this: I was reflecting on something I had been researching for my upcoming memoir that didnāt make the final cut.
David Thompsonās story.
Let me share a bit about him, then Iāll come full circle.
DAVID THOMPSON IS recognized by some as the greatest land geographer who ever lived, with 1.5 million square miles of mapped wilderness in North America attributed to his name. He was both a wayfinder and a cartographer.Ā Over the course of his career, he travelled a mind-boggling 80,000 kilometres by canoe, dogsled, on foot and horseback. š¶
Side Note: David Thompson and his wife, a MĆ©tis/Scottish woman named Charlotte Small, had thirteen children, and though Charlotte was just 13 when they married (Thompson was 29), they remained dedicated to each other for 58 years until his death in 1857.
Thompsonās mapping of waterways was a painstaking process. First, he would establish several fixed points by observing for latitude and longitude. To map the waterways, however, heād need to chart every turn in the waterās course between those points. He did this through a technique known as a tracking survey whereby heād kneel in the middle of the canoe and make a notation with every change of direction.
Thompson would collect thousands of coordinates, often years before he had an opportunity to sit down to chart them. His 1814 Map of the North-West Territory of the Province of Canadaāfor which he was never properly compensatedāwas so accurate it was still in use 100 years later.
Read more belowā¦
Photo: Snapwire.
Continuedā¦
It would have certainly taken perseverance to complete such a project; Thompsonās 1814 map was the culmination of over two decades of explorations. He faced many dangers and hostilities, yet woke up each day with a determination to continue.
Iāve always been a history nerd, so I love stories like Thompsonās. But thereās also something in there thatās serving me at the exact point Iām at in my life right now.
This idea of a tracking survey. Have you ever felt like you arenāt sure which direction you want to go in life? Ok, all of you? š
Thompson charted unmapped waterways turn by turn. He centred himself in that canoe and made a note of where the water was leading him. š§
It was only later, even decades later, that Thompson saw the big picture. I might feel directionless now, but if I take life one turn at a time, I believe Iāll eventually get somewhere. I need to centre myself and trust that every action is part of the bigger picture.
Letās bring the pandemic back into the picture for a moment. Today I realized that itās all about mindset. I can feel frustrated and restless that I donāt know what I want to be for this world. Or, I can be grateful that when we emerge from this pandemic I have an open slate ahead of me, filled with possibilities.
So, for now, Iāll sit. Iām doing a tracking survey of my life.šIāll take notes. Iāll keep moving forward one paddle stroke at a time. And, eventually, the big picture will come together.
If youāre a subscriber, youāll notice thereās a recording of the above story in your inbox, too. Let me know how you like the recorded version. Itās all a big experiment for me!
Whatās caught my attention latelyā¦ āØ
āHow can you strip down that thing youāve been meaning to do into something so easy you could do it every day with barely a thought?ā Hereās How I Finally Got Myself Exercising has some great tips. My fav: āTry doing one better than nothing behavior.ā (Thanks to Tsh for the recommendation.)
Check these out tooā¦ š
*Memoir* Mailing List - This book is forthcoming Sept 2022.
The Wonders That I Find - My childrenās book is available for pre-order! šæ
My Email Newsletter - Yes, different from Substack. This newsletter is for specific updates about my books and various projects.
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Footnote re. David Thompson:
Unfortunately, Thompson was a poor and relatively obscure person when he died, despite his numerous contributions to the building of the nation of Canada. His public acknowledgment came after his death.
š I highly recommend the book, Epic Wanderer: David Thompson and the Mapping of the Canadian West, by DāArcy Jenish, if youād like to learn more.
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I enjoyed this. Your side note about Charlotte Small really piqued my curiosity. The women who supported great men are so often hidden in their shadows. Thanks!