Just something to get through

As I age, the lack of freedom in my life becomes acutely painful. Many impose themselves on my time, for a reason or without a reason.
 

The worse of all is when grumpy people come to let their dark clouds over me. They spill all their poison and negativity out, and in addition to wasting my time, they make me feel like life is not worth the effort.
 

My coping mechanism is to chisel out little niches of me-time within my days. These are the little sacred temples within time, where I feel in control of my life and being true to myself.
 

Why cannot life be a celebration of our individuality and fulfillment? Does it also depend upon our attitude? Probably....  

Why do we celebrate our life only on our birthdays? These are days that sometimes we designate to ourselves and some reflection on our life, and probably this is why we feel that these days are meaningful and memorable.
 

It is likely that the me-time becomes more valuable when we invest some thought and planning in it. Compare the idle staring at the TV screen to ceremonies that are usually carefully planned, and slowly and thoughtfully executed.
 

Do you have any “me” activity every day, activity that you prepare for, and slowly and carefully proceed with?
 

Here is what provoked this post:
“…the saddest adult lesson of all: that so much of life was just something to get through.” The dogs of Littlefield, Suzanne Berne

If life is an adventure, where is mine

Last week I listened to a MadFientist podcast. It was an interview with a fascinating young couple that has acquired financial independence in five years.

I wish I had had the knowledge and opportunities to do something as unorthodox as these young people, when I was their age. However, I did not – my life had a different trajectory, and at almost twice their age, I am still not financially independent.

Instead of giving up to bitter regrets, I would like to share their story. If you are still young, think outside the box, and explore alternative ways of realizing yourself. 

Other examples of off-the track stories are these of the couples behind The Good Life Lab, Frugalwoods, Go Curry Cracker, and Millennial Revolution. 

By the way, the Millennial Revolution couple was also interviewed by the MadFientist. The couple is leading a nomadic lifestyle, and I was (almost) weeping with envy when they described their next destination as "a few quiet beaches". I was listening and shivering after my weekly food shopping in the early morning hours, when December temperatures dip below freezing. Should I also mention that my upper back muscles were hurting after the first Herculean snow-cleaning effort (yes, our snowblower gave up, so we put our muscles to the test).

Here is how to start preparing for the nomadic chapter of your life, if you are inspired. 

Mark Twain said,

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. 

I do not need twenty years to realize my disappointment. I need to do something different soon. If life is an adventure, where is mine?

 

The reason you should take care of your health

I just read an excellent post that highlights the reasons for the disintegration of Obamacare. The post is written by Fritz Gilbert, the founder of The Retirement Manifesto.

Gilbert reports the dire picture on the insurance companies that are pulling out of the system.

...And if you have happened to listen to any of the recent YouTube talks of Dr. Robert Lustig, MD, you would know that our Medicare might be "broken" by 2026.

Why is this happening? Well, the health care costs have become overwhelming. There are more sick than healthy people in this country. Just think about the ratio of normal weight people to overweight and obese people in the U.S.: it is 1:2. How about the fact that every second adult in the U.S. is pre-diabetic or diabetic? The two biggest killers, heart diseases and cancer, can also be traced in most cases to overweight/obesity.

Whereas Fritz Gilbert does not have a solution to the health care system problem, Dr. Lustig points to the fact that obesity is the leading cause for the disintegration of our health care system. Therefore, the solution is prevention: educate yourself about what you eat, and take care of yourself before you become a health invalid. Our health care system is already broken. 

For yet another perspective and more information on our health care insurance saga, read this post.

The road makes us more human

The title re-phrases a poet I read long time ago. The "road" can lead to a physical destination or could be a process of achieving a goal. Either effort feeds the soul.

What does not feed the soul is pessimism, negative news, dark movies and books … All of these are “junk” food for the soul. Therefore, negativism/pessimism should be avoided the same way we avoid feeding our body with junk food.

We should also avoid surrounding ourselves with people who are unhappy and pessimistic – such situation is reminiscent of a cafeteria full of junk food, where one has to engage all his willpower not to swallow whatever is served.

On the other hand, optimism, hope, and plans for a better future nourish the soul the same way healthy foods nurture our immune system, brain, and body functions.

Optimism means having goals and a life destination. The path to the destination should be as joyful as you imagine the final destination would be.  

However, on the road of achieving long-term goals, one could become fatigued and jaded. This is why we need short-term goals, the accomplishment of which boosts the self-confidence. 

On the way to financial and health freedom, we should also pose from time to time, and reflect on the future. Visualize ourselves already independent, but still filled with vigor. 

What would I do with my newly found freedom? I still do not know, but what I know is that once at the destination, the feeling of freedom will increase my creativity and broaden my mind. And this, at least to me, is the definition of happiness. 

Actionable
Stop being a passive consumer of negative and pessimistic news, books, and mainstream media "entertainment". Clarify your short-term and long-term goals and get on the path of your destination.