It's been just over 3 months that my family and I have moved to a new house and a completely different area.
After living in the same home and area for over two decades, we just had to move to a new place. This apartment is fairly smaller compared to the previous apartment, but it's well made and every bit of space has been utilized well, which is something I appreciate, I don't like wasting space. And the whole family fits in all snug as well.
This exact location is less crowded too, maintaining a fair bit of distance from the loud and crazy parts of the area and city.
Even though it's nice and quiet over here, the rent also being fairly cheaper; I just can't forget about the memories we left behind. More than two decades worth of memories are chiseled into every corner of that house. Both my younger brothers and I grew up there. From getting to know all the neighbors and locals, to playing on the empty fields and becoming a source of noise and mischief in the late afternoons.
Over the years we memorized every street and corner in that whole area, I myself became quite familiar with every nook and cranny present in that little neighborhood of ours.
Yet, this change was necessary, to survive, to go on with the hard-reset that we planned for.
Personal financial issues and the demands of a broken economy and market lead us here. But hey, I'm not complaining, we'll make more memories, new memories, it's possible as long as we're together. If anything, all the hardships in these past few years have only brought my family closer.
People and their promotion of the hustle culture nowadays tells us to work hard, to make a lot of money, have multiple income sources, to cut off some people temporarily and to become addicted to your work life. So that you can get that big house and fancy car, a set of luxury watches and every new gadget available in the market. But, what's wrong with being content with what you have already? I mean if it's working and serving you well, then why go for the upgrade?
How about cutting down the unnecessary costs and expenses first? Starting with a bad habit and then getting rid of it even, practicing gratitude, appreciating the little things, creating memories and not just running after material. It's a much simpler fix than working an extra job or creating extra sources of income, such things take time, to learn a skill to build a business or side hustle.
So, it's better we start small and get rid of the irrelevant things at first, the things that we have control over.
Of course, as humans there should be improvement, we should grow, make progress, climb some sort of an invisible ladder, according to the pace we find comfortable. But, a shift to a more minimal lifestyle and a little "downgrade" shouldn't be completely disregarded.
Who really knows about the tricks life keeps up its sleeves? Nothing is permanent, NOTHING. Life's harsh methods have taught me that over the years, and that is why we must always be prepared to adapt.
I'm not out here to make all the money in the world, I just need enough, an amount that keeps me and my family safe and in good health.
When the bills are paid, when we have a proper three meals a day and a solid roof over our heads, that day I'll be able to finally shift my focus towards true minimalism, investing more time in my hobbies, spending more time with family, and on travelling every now and then.
When the money comes, if it comes, then instead of spending it all on unnecessary upgrades, I'd rather use it as a tool to buy more time, does that make sense? Hopefully it does.
Because for now the only things that truly seem permanent are the memories that I cherish.
"Everything is possible, but everything is not necessary." – Arvo Pärt
