Getting older has its benefits, ok there are wrinkles, bits ache that never used to ache, though I personally don’t have to worry about the grey hair as I’ve had that since I was 13! But the beauty of old age, is being stronger within yourself, being true to yourself and realizing what is important to you – not what is important to others. One of the big things for me that I have realized is that we as a people have been brainwashed into thinking we need the biggest and the best of ‘stuff’ all the time, heaven forbid if you don’t have the latest gizmo for the kitchen! All these things are meant to save us time, but we have to work harder to be able to afford them, so as far as I’m concerned it’s all a bit of a catch-22. Imagine if you have a simple three bedroom house, with furniture that is second-hand, no fancy gizmo’s in the kitchen, how little you would owe to the bank! That you would be able to work in an area that you’re passionate about, so that it doesn’t feel like working at all, but still earning enough to meet your very modest means. How awesome would that be? We all get so caught up in having to have more, the latest, not just stuff, but fashion as well, everything apparently needs to be replaced constantly. We spent the weekend with my in-laws and I selected a dress for my mother-in-law to wear and her comment was ‘but its three years old!’ – I replied with ‘So?’ Who cares if she bought it three years ago? I’ve got a skirt in my wardrobe that I’ve had for 10 years and I still wear it and I love it!
Some of us realise that having to keep up with the Jones’ isn’t a goal and when we do, we release so much pressure on ourselves that we then have the time to smell the roses, play with the kids, potter in the garden, go to the beach, whatever it is that you enjoy doing. So, please, have a think about how important that big house with the huge mortgage is, how important it is for you to have all that stuff and if you didn’t think you needed it, how freeing that would be…..