Embracing Autonomy: A Personal Journey

Hey everybody, it’s Jason, the Autonomous Gardener. Over the years, I’ve shared a lot about gardening, philosophy, and various other topics on YouTube and social media. I’ve made music videos and have done whatever I wanted with my channel. This approach has led to some losing interest, but that’s okay. For those who stay, this channel is about my journey and ideas around autonomy, and I’m here to share that with you.

My New Book on Autonomous Living

I’m excited to announce that my book on autonomous living is almost complete! Just a few corrections and design touches are needed, and it should be ready by 2025. This isn’t a gardening book; it’s about my ideas on living autonomously, a concept I’ve developed through personal experiences and events.

The Framework of Autonomy

I’ve conceptualized autonomy as an outer ring encompassing five inner rings: self-awareness, sustainable living, community engagement, financial independence, and emotional resilience. Each of these elements is crucial for achieving a truly autonomous lifestyle.

Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is the cornerstone of autonomy. It’s about understanding your strengths, weaknesses, values, and goals. Practices like journaling help us gain insights into who we are and what we need. Journaling allows us to explore our thoughts freely without fear of criticism, fostering a deep sense of self-awareness.

Sustainable Living

Sustainable living isn’t just about buying eco-friendly products. It’s about making lifestyle choices that support long-term independence. For example, I haven’t used shampoo regularly for years because I don’t need it for my hair. Sustainable living means being independent of unnecessary systems and making choices that align with your values and needs.

Community Engagement

Community engagement is essential, though I’ve struggled with it. While autonomy emphasizes independence, it also recognizes the importance of a supportive community. Engaging with a community enhances our resilience and contributes to collective well-being. I’ve had some success with a neighbor, but there’s room for more meaningful connections.

Financial Independence

Financial independence is a major challenge for many of us. It’s difficult to achieve while working for others and dealing with debts. However, finding ways to earn on the side and reducing unnecessary expenses can help. Adjusting our lifestyle to live within our means is crucial for achieving financial independence.

Emotional Resilience

Emotional resilience enables us to cope with stress and adversity. Practices like mindfulness, reflection, and community support build resilience. I’ve found inspiration from Stoic philosophers and Buddhism, among other sources, to help manage stress and maintain emotional stability.

The Path to Autonomy

Becoming autonomous isn’t easy, and none of us are truly autonomous. Many factors, such as debt, trauma, and community dynamics, can hinder our journey. However, by working on self-awareness, sustainable living, community engagement, financial independence, and emotional resilience, we can move closer to an autonomous lifestyle.

Final Thoughts

I hope this introduction to my concept of autonomy inspires you to consider these ideas in your own life. Reflect on how you can strengthen these aspects to achieve greater independence and resilience. As always, I’m here to share my journey and learn from yours. If you enjoyed this, please like and subscribe. I’ll continue to share more about this journey as I go along.

Take care, be well, and grow on, my friends.

Thank you for taking the time to read and engage with my thoughts on autonomy. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out. I’m also active on Twitter, and you can find all my links in the description. Until next time, stay well and continue your journey towards autonomy.

Books Recommended:

“The Autonomous Garden” by Jason Vivier (2025) — Unreleased

“Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius

“The Art of Happiness” by the Dalai Lama

Connect with Us:

Amazon link to my poetry book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VPRQSYW

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/UkrLrc_Jason

Music on Youtube: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCZ0OBMNoXBVvDDDCrI6bomA

Substack: https://1sttractor.substack.com/

Instagram: @vivier_Jason