I have some friends who are retired and live in a little cabin in southeast Colorado. Their cabin has the bare necessities and lots of musical instruments. They have some chickens. They live less than 30 minutes from Great Sand Dunes National Park and even fewer minutes from some natural hot springs.
They host music nights on Sundays. All of the friends that they have made over the last few years gather at their home for soup and an evening of music made with every stringed instrument you can imagine, bells, drums, and singing. Some songs are made up on the spot, some have been written down and are practiced. Their little dog howls if the singing isnt to his liking. They have started doing shows at the little coffee shop in the town that is about 30 minutes away.
They live a minimalist life. They dont have many material possessions. Only the most important things stay. If you ask them, theyll say, We have more than most rich people. We have enough.
As Americans, it seems that our value system is skewed.
We chase the American Dream which has turned into the pursuit of money and possessions. The bigger the salary, house, car, and debt, the more we are seen as successful. Working 40 hours a week is, for many chasing the dream, a thing of the past. Now, 6080 hour work weeks are the norm.
Having a family, but having to schedule a time to see them is seen as normal. Being constantly on a phone, texting, replying, having conversations even when we are with our family on outings or while the kids play a sport is normal.
Look around at the next event youre at, and you will see hardly any eyes on the game. Instead, theyre looking down at a device. Children are plunked down on a bench and given a device to occupy themselves. The bigger the salary, the longer the hours mom and dad work, the bigger and better the device.
We have more clothes than we need. We have more stuff than we can use. We shop and shop and shop trying to fill an emptiness that cant be filled with things. Once we buy the thing, a newer thing comes out and we feel lacking again.
If we want to turn this around, we have to recognize that we do this. We have to understand that success should not be defined by the amount in your bank account, the size of your house, or the year and size of your vehicle.
Successful living is having a home that you are present in. Having children who can see your face in the morning and sit down with you every night for an evening meal. It is taking long walks with your spouse or children and leaving the phone at home. In fact, it is leaving your phone at home most of the time.
Even on vibrate, that is a one-second distraction that pulls your attention away from what is most important. Downsizing to what we really need, purging ourselves of the things that we really dont need, things that are just filling up space, frees us to focus on what truly matters in this life. Moving to a smaller home and working less to pay for it is a win for everyone.
Driving an older car, with a smaller or even no payment, lets you have more money to spend on putting the family in the car and taking a trip.
As a country, our priorities have gone haywire. Less is more. Less is where you will find your dreams coming true. Give it a try, all you have to lose is stuff, and all you have to gain is everything. Kindness matters!
