The magic 50 is approaching very quickly. To be precise, this week is the day… And where a birthday wasn't that interesting in recent years, even a thing I didn't even celebrate extensively anymore. Where age is just a number, and I'm still the same person I was the day before… Turning 50 IS a thing.
A thing that has made me think about where I am now, what I have achieved, and what I still want to achieve. Because turning 50 doesn't mean you're going to stand still, nor does it mean that your life is over.
For example;
And what I just wanted to make clear ...
I'm not 50! I'm just 25 with 25 years of experience!
So basically just the ideal employee now. Hmm, I didn't look at the fact that I don't have a university degree to my name. Or does life experience count a little more these days?
By the way, don't think that I'm sitting here as a saggy figure, of course I walk miles every day with my dogs, and I'm just active, I don't feel like being 50 ... or so I think. I don't really know how that should feel. And last but not least!
The earrings I bought when I was 17, they still fit me!
Hey, that's quite an achievement, isn't it!
Okay, now that that's clear again...on to the more serious stuff. Because that also really comes into play. What have I achieved? But not only that, it is also very important, what do I still want to achieve?
Due to the circumstances we haven't been able to save in recent years, and because I have been living without certainty of income for quite a few years now, my pension accrual can of course also be called worthless. So yeah, I definitely want to change that. So I don't always end up in this situation where I've often worried about how the hell I was going to pay the bills that I even knew were coming. Let alone the unexpected bills that have always come at an inopportune moment.
Thanks to cryptocurrency, I have been able to absorb quite a bit in recent years, but unfortunately there was still not the time or possibility to save.
Now that the situation is somewhat more stable, I hope to be able to change that too. But, there is something else that is possibly even more important to me. I want to reach such a level that my partner can quit his job.
That job he has to go to every day, and which he hates so much. That job where he is belittled every day, that job where he gets no respect at all, that job where most people have never heard the word 'honesty', that job that has left him several times into depression and even burnout. That job he reluctantly drags himself into every day because we simply cannot live without that income. Yes, I wish I could say to him tomorrow… “Hand in your resignation and let them fall to pieces”. But unfortunately, I'm not that far now, and I won't be for a while. That doesn't take away from the fact that I do my very best to get there.
So that he can follow his dream, and spend the whole day out here in the garden in his garden shed, where he has all his stuff for turning wood and processing wood. All the necessities are there, his inspiration, enthusiasm and motivation is there, his dexterity, creativity and knowledge is there. Only a certainty of income from it, there is no such thing. And that is precisely what is so important. So yes, if you ask me now what else I would like to achieve, it's not so much for myself as it is for my partner, give him the freedom to follow his dream. And believe me, it wrinkles me so deeply when I think about how I can help him achieve that. Or would those wrinkles have to do with that magical 50?
If you ask me what my goal would be for the coming year… I couldn't even give you an answer like that, because I guess this isn't a 1-year plan, unfortunately. But that I really will need a little longer for this. And that brings me back to the next thing.
As I said before, I also started painting again after I hadn't done it for years. Working on paintings relaxes me, it gives me a creative outlet, and at the same time it gives me peace. But now I also wonder… do I have a possibility to sell my paintings, or can I even do something with it as NFT? In short, what possibilities are open here… I haven't really delved into the NFT world that much yet to know if I can do something with it. I would really appreciate ideas on this.
What else? Of course, I write 3 blogs a week for LBI, and I write the Bro Newspaper 1x a week. In addition, I try to keep my own blog, but due to the ongoing pandemic situation, my inspiration is often below zero again. I just don't experience enough, and don't want to come up with the same story every time. Being away with my dogs is nice for once, but not 7 days a week. At least, I imagine you are not waiting for that. This same situation means that I haven't really looked at my camera for a long time. And in addition, the situation that I no longer use crypto every time to pay for my groceries, but that does not mean that we now suddenly have so much more money. On the contrary. We still live on a minimum… which means that the car is only used by my partner to drive to work, and once a week by me for shopping 5 km away in the village. No luxury photography trips, unfortunately!
When I read back what I wrote myself, it may sound a bit of negative, but it is not intended that way. And I don't feel it as negative either, I see it more, as I am currently a bit looking for how I can boost my / our income again, and how I can ensure that my partner is one big step closer to following his dream comes, with a certainty of income. Because that's the big stumbling block right now.
Looking back on the situation 7 years ago and now, I can proudly say that I have achieved a lot. And since 50 is the new 30, I look with confidence to the next few years to come. It will be memorable years in many ways, and I will certainly do my best to take the heavy burden off my partner's shoulders, while I also certainly want to try to build up that savings for;
