Forgetting the Simple Things
Now today I don’t have a whole lot of money in my wallet, but I do have a little. There was a time I had at best $5 in there. For some people that might seem real bad, but looking back it wasn’t. It made me take pleasure in the things I have and took for granted. No matter your income there are just some things you can’t take away from a free person. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Silicon Valley billionaire or earn minimum wage. I’ll be talking about some of these things.
I can remember back in the 1990’s being a young lad and it almost seems like it was the cool thing to use credit cards. It seems like that changed quite a bit to being not cool; I guess the bills came due. Back then I don’t think I ever heard the term minimalist. You just didn’t hear it. Bigger houses, fancier cars and higher salaries were the goal for what seemed like all Americans.
Sometimes I think it’s good to stop and take a step back. It’s so easy to focus on what I don’t have. I look at the neighbors up and down the street and think wow they seem like they are doing pretty well for themselves. I don’t know if they really do or not but they seem to have it all.
But now if I’m being honest if you have a home with electric, water and heat you’re doing pretty darn well for yourself. These are simple things that a lot people take for granted. Can you take a minute and imagine living your life without a roof over your head and basic utilities. You’d be like the Farmer from the Oregon Trail! I think it would really stink to be homeless and I would do anything to avoid that personally. But if someone wants to be homeless by choice I respect that decision.
It’s not hard to get sucked into a society that focuses on more, more, more. But I want you to think about the things you have to make your life better (I bet there’s plenty of them!). Here are a couple of things that I have and I’d like to share.
• Sleep
I never been rich, but I can’t see if I’d win the lottery I’d be getting better sleep. If anything it would probably be worse. Most people seem to love sleep, I know I do. I wake up feel rested and eager to start a new day.
• A jacket or coat
Where I live you need a jacket. I can’t even imagine living without one it would be terrible. I got a steal on my jacket. I bought it at the Goodwill store near my home for $7 and had it a few years now. It’s a LL Bean jacket and I think they make quality stuff. I always wondered who donates quality clothes and have barely been worn. I wear clothes until they are basically trash.
• A hot shower
A hot shower can work wonders. I take quick showers to but that’s all I need. How do you feel after a hot shower? I feel great. It’s a unique feeling that for me only a hot shower can give you.
• Having clean clothes
Do you have a washing machine or access to a laundry mat? Then you too my friend can have the gift of clean clothes. Think about how it makes you feel to take that hot shower we were talking about and put on clean clothes.
• A Beautiful day
We all love when the weather is perfect. Name something that money can buy that beats the feeling of taking a walk outside on a perfect day, I can’t. I would go to a park, go for a walk and just find a place to sit under a tree. If you reflect on your most prized memories I bet the background was a beautiful day.
• A family dinner
Some of my best memories are having a nice home cooked family dinner. I enjoy going to a restaurant as much as anyone else but having that home cooked meal with family and friends is very special. If you don’t have any tradition remember it’s not too late to start one.
• Reading and Learning
With all the free resources available with the internet, podcast or your local library there’s almost no limit to what you can learn. You can learn how to speak another language, learn to program or build a house. Its only limited to your imagination.
I’d love to hear from anyone about other simple things to be grateful for. Thanks!
