Possessions, outward success, publicity, luxury - to me these have always been contemptible. I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best for both the body and the mind.At first I was just trying desperately to get our spending under control. I embarked upon a year long journey to see how little stuff I could acquire (food not considered). That was shortly after I went on a mission trip to Guatemala and saw how little people can really live on, and not just get by on but really live lifetimes, generations; there are entire cultures of people who just don't have much of anything. Not long after, this blog began and I started to really budget all of our spending, track it, and try to get it lesser and lesser. I've come such a long way.
-Albert Einstein
"It's what's on the inside that really counts." Remember your mom trying to tell you that when you were an adolescent and you were crying because someone said you were fat or ugly or that you would be cute if it weren't for your 32 chins? (someone really said that about me in the fifth grade) Who cares what really counts when what everyone really wants is more, bigger, better, smarter, and prettier.
Twenty years later and my heart, what's on the inside, screams with a peaceful sort of sound, "a simple and unassuming manner of life IS best; it is what's on the inside that really counts."
I remember wanting things when I was young. I remember before getting my first paper route I lost a pair of earnings that I adored. Goodness they were long. I think they actually touched my shoulder. Us 80's kids were the coolest. I remember crying and crying and asking my mom if she would "please, please, please buy me another pair." She refused. I'm sure she said something about me needing to take care of my things (in truth my younger brothers were responsible for the loss and destruction of most of my things). I remember screaming something like, "I hate you. I wish I had a job. I wish I were an adult." I cried and cried. I do not remember what I said but the memory of losing those earrings and wishing with all my heart that I could fast forward time and be an adult and have a job and buy my own stuff and be responsible for my life, that is a vivid memory for me even today. I remember the feelings I had in that moment, the ardent desire to grow up and work and have money and be able to buy stuff.
I wish I could take it back, that feeling. Do you ever think about going back and telling your little kid self something, a message, like words of wisdom or some advice on how to handle a certain situation? I think I'd go back to that very moment. I'd tell myself that childhood is a gift (I did not spend very much of my childhood being a child; my childhood ended when I was 10) and to try my very hardest to enjoy it and appreciate it. I'd tell myself that stuff is not important that it could never make anyone happy and to start there and then looking for the lovely bits of life. And of course I'd tell myself that I was VERY special and that it really is what's on the inside that counts. I suppose if I'd had listened I would probably have a very different life then the one I have now. Maybe that's one of the reasons we can't go back (you know, and the fact that time travel isn't possible).
This was going to be a quick little post. Oops. All that to say, less is more. Simple is better. It is what's on the inside that really counts. Things and money and stuff really aren't all that they're cracked up to be.
Spending rundown today: $17.89 on groceries.
My budget for the month is $436 which leaves $111.58
Average daily spending for 2015: $17.97
There are SO many things I would go back and tell my younger self - especially about money! I truly think we are limiting our kids - I think we should teach a finance class to every high school freshman. Not just "economics" but real-life things like balancing a checkbook (yes, I am dating myself....), interest payed on something with credit vs. cash, things like that.
ReplyDeleteGee, a class taught in high school; They should at least teach one class in middle school and then maybe require three different courses about money in high school. I graduated high school really believing that credit cards were like free money, like something you "obviously" had to pay back but how hard could that be. It was so cool that I could buy things and pay for them later! Almost 20 years later... I'm still paying for them.
DeleteI often wonder how I could have been so blind, but I was, I really didn't realize how hard it would be to pay it all back and that credit cards were really just taking out a loan/ borrowing money. I just thought I was fortunate to have one (or three) and that credit cards were really cool. I was always great at paying the bill on time and the limits just kept going up, up, up so of course the balances just kept going up and up and up. Gah!!!
You may wish you could talk to your younger self but have you ever tried talking to your older self? Try talking to you as you will be when you are twice your present age and tell yourself that this was when you redesigned the foundations of your own life and built strong foundations for Abner's.
ReplyDeleteAnd if that doesn't make you hold your head up high you could also have a little bit of pride in those average figures. Not only below $18 dollars this month but below $18 dollars average for the year. Not bad!
Wow! That is very profound and you know that you are right, don't you. We do have the chance right now to tell ourselves very important things. Thank-you! How valuable!
Delete