The Power of Editing
Sometimes it is hard to know what to say when someone feels lonely. Especially in dairy farming, when we come off a year like 2023, it can feel overwhelmingly lonely. The reasons are plentiful: low milk prices, high input costs, long hours, little time off, breakdowns and so much more. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and be consumed by emotion.
There’s one thing editors do that dairy producers should do, too. That’s editing. Grab a red pen and cross out the parts of the year that didn’t work in your favor. Hold down the delete button to get rid of the parts that weigh down your story. Don’t just edit them from social media, delete them from your mindset.
I challenge you to edit your mind and focus on the good parts of the past year, like the Dairy Margin Coverage checks that added a cushion to our bottom lines more months than not, or the fact beef-on-dairy is providing an alternative profit source for many dairies.
Healthy Mindset
Editing can be powerful. It can shift our mindset. No magic eraser can completely eliminate the challenges dairy farmers face, but the magic reset in our attitude can allow us to focus on the opportunities and blessings in dairy farming. That shift in our mindset can help us start off the new year with a healthy approach.
Our brains can be wired to remember the good. I don’t save the photos on my camera reel that show kids bickering while feeding calves or attempting to halter break the stubborn 3-year-old cow 10 days ahead of the show. I don’t snap photos of the milk check or the rising feed bill. I only keep photos of the good days.
Remember the Good Stuff
You can choose how you’ll remember the past year. If you edit, you’ll be reminded of the good stuff. Editing allows you to look back at 2023 and be reminded that you are indeed part of a great industry.
Remember that. You are producing a nutrient-dense product that will feed a growing global population. Many of you are raising a family on a farm, teaching the same values that you were taught of commitment, sacrifice and the importance of hard work.
We are all blessed to be part of an industry of friends. I challenge you to find another industry that offers the same blessings as the dairy industry. Editing will not only remind you of the goodness, but it also will provide you with the fuel to tackle the year ahead.
