The Way of life

[Traged]

I have been thinking about this for some time. This might take more than one post. I hope that if you can you will pitch in. I write this for someone like me when I was younger, mostly. But if you are older, it still will suit you well.

First I had to stop and think what I want in life. Why I want it. Is it really important? And mostly how I will get to it.

While doing so I found many things that I consider being universal. Regardless of what you are, who you are.

I used to play Dota 2 a lot. Still love it but I am not spending time with it these days. Miyamoto Musashi comes to mind “If You Know The Way Broadly, You Will See It In Everything”.

It was lot about being efficient. Thinking and being efficient. Efficiency could and still can take you to top 80% in that game. Today I believe it can take you there in life to.

Being efficient with your time, your mind, your money even feelings and body.

If I was immortal I would be under no pressure, I could just take small amount of money. Beat inflation and wait.

I am not immortal.

Therefore I need to be efficient. With everything and have timeframes.

To fix my future. And for you to fix your. We need to do following:
1. prevent bad things that are in our control
2. make more than we spend
3. invest X amount

Think about investing as your sentence. It is unavoidable. You haven't done it and as a punishment you have to do it now. After few years sentence, you might be done. And if you will not touch it. Your kid might not need to do it too. You will get your freedom and freedom of your kids this way. Look at the math. Diversity and time will take you there.

Prevent bad things. You should not borrow from your future. And you should take care of your body. Even if you live in country where healthcare is almost free. Time not working is time not making money. God forbid you would be forced to never work again. Think about what you eat. Exercise.

Spend money when it matters. Only if it matters. Be frugal, not cheap.
I do not buy cheap shoes. (well for some of you they still would be cheap) But I am looking towards leather. At least I will do it always in the future. I bought leather shoes, I haven't taken care of them for 3 years. I was about to switch them to garden work. But I waxed them and they will be in service at least one more year. I have realized, would I take care of them from beginning, they would served really long time. Get leather shoes and take care of them properly. Not only will you look good, you will save money in the long run. Also you will develop relationship with your surrounding and that feels therapeutical. It is good to take care of things.

If you are like me, you have not been born into money. And you have seen odds stacked against you. I am here to tell you it does not matter. Simple math, dedication and time will take you where you want to be in life. Just beware of shortcuts. They tend to stray you from The Way.

We as humans used to live in huts. Save for the winter to survive. It is the same. With slightly longer period of time and it disregards seasons. You somehow might be forced to save in the winter to make never-ending summer.

 

[Tulamonk]

That's not a bad write up on the Practical perspective that we somehow try to keep an eye on and adhere in some fashion to, while we are completely in love with ourselves as the obvious replacement for Ozzy to all women and all we have to do is get to the top of that next Mountain, having fun all the way, because the next best place to discover is just ahead, just out of sight and we'll be there by morning. The rational framework we conform to for survival while we seem completely helpless to outrageous fortune.

When I couldn't think of a plan, the universe didn't always provide one and when I could think of a plan the universe didn't always cooperate, but you adapt. You wonder how you are going to when you really already are - I think the short version is we try to use your ladder against the absolute unpredictability and sometimes chaos of life that we do not get to select. I only say it because so many men I know have done "everything the right way" and "like you're supposed to" and had to adapt on the go because it didn't turn out like it was supposed to. It's got to be okay when it doesn't and merely a stimulus to make it be okay.

 

[Traged]

The shoes, seems almost like an anecdote to me.

You want to save money (but mostly you don't like buying shoes), look good and be comfortable. You get leather shoes. Not the priciest ones but good ones. And you take care of them.

They become your friends. Dependable ones.

When you take care of them it becomes almost like meditation. Soothing time well spent. You clean and care for them therefore you are more careful as well. Circle closes. And the last long time. Saving you money and time while bringing comfort.

More you then think about it, more you can translate to relationships with other things and even with yourself.

You basically showing to yourself that you are worth the care. You must be when your shoes are...

 

[fink]

Following a material way of life seems to neglect the spiritual in many cases. Do you think there is a danger that in order to gain the material things you desire, you must sacrifice who you are?

 

[Traged]

No, I sincerely think, that if you understand enough that it makes more sense. You don't have to compromise anything. This is not about material way. It is not about acquiring many things. It is about acquiring freedom to do as you please when you please. I don't think its doable if you would be casual consumer who buys stuff he does not need and spends money to impress others.

My t-shirts usually cost around 10€, my trousers usually under 20€...

I am currently doing best in my life, I think, and point when the change started was when I refused to work for someone evil. Basically I resigned on principle, since then after year of not working I had two jobs. To each of them I did not even applied. They found me.

Stuff I wrote at the top is stuff that basically says "it doesn't matter what you do, you can still make it".

You need money to live. Even if you homestead you need money to buy it (unless you inherited it). So you have to work for them. And if there is to way to do what you want when you want it... I feed obligated to do so. Not only because of me, but also future generation - should they come.

Goal is not to be indentured to system, to be able to have roof over your head. But to be free and make system work for you a little bit - that can be done in positive way also (do not invest in Monsanto).

 

[Varallo]

Following a material way of life seems to neglect the spiritual in many cases. Do you think there is a danger that in order to gain the material things you desire, you must sacrifice who you are?

There’s no need to sacrifice who you are for material things. Nor does it lead to neglecting spirituality, if this was true then we would have a lot less spirituality.

More on topic, I think it’s a great idea to have sufficient resources and opportunities to get through life, being modest in life and not spend all your money is really important.

Also being modest in existence is something that we can’t have enough of, buying things, however nice, is best done second hand, it’s saves you money and saves the world.

 

[Traged]

is best done second hand

I am not sure about this. Mother was always convinced that things come with energy of their previous owners. And never shopped second hand even if that meant we could only afford cheap...

I think there might be something to that. I would consider second hand things, but it would be rare.

I was tending to plants and had a thought. I am currently in process of buying house for my mother to live in (mortgage). It has great garden where I will be able to plant anything I like and everything I have acquired till now. Thing is. I have committed to hoarding plants 2 years before this. Therefore:

Commit and life will make way...