all the money in the world

i'm in the middle of this book right now and love it! this and my last book have really led to some "deep thinking" for me. i'm recognizing that many things that i do are a result of expectations.. that i think i'm "supposed" to do them because that's what i see everyone around me doing. but after reading these books it's really opened my eyes to why i do things and how i might personalize some aspects of my life in order to be happier. i've learned a bit about "minimalist" lifestyles and learning that less can be more...  that often we can actually do/have/be a lot with very little. more is not essential. or even necessary to be happy.

all these thoughts come at a time when my husband and i are at a bit of a "crossroads" of our lives. we had been at one even before his job loss this month. things have been rather uncertain, so i guess his recent job loss couldn't have come at a more opportune time! these past couple years have brought job loss, new jobs, exploration of new careers, opportunities to purchase businesses... etc!

 and we're working to determine what we want most in life and what it's worth to get it. i think i've been so set on trying to "have it all".. steve's income in his profession is quite limited, so we've always been set on doing more, so we can bring in more, and ultimately have more. but just lately i'm realizing that everything has its costs and rarely do we get something without giving up something else to get it. ie:  time, money, energy, space, relationships, "things"...etc. what do we have to give up to get it and do we really need as much as we think? 

also i'm learning that although my dreams may not be realistic with our income, there may be more attainable ways to achieve dreams that we may not otherwise have the means to fulfill in our lives. there's ways to cut around costs in order to have what makes you happy.  for instance, my ultimate dream in life is to have land-- more wide open spaces around me-- and horses! basically what i grew up with. i'm pretty certain that if it weren't for wanting this, i would have very little drive to pursue higher income, except for the sense of security that it brings. but though i won't give up on it, i may not ever have this, or fulfill this dream. the only way in our current circumstances would mean moving somewhere i don't want to live, and away from people i want to be close to. so there is a cost i'm not yet willing to pay. but i can still find ways to be happy. i can enjoy wide open spaces.. i can hike, camp, visit parks, ride bikes, drive by fields...etc. and then i am very blessed that my parents have land and horses so i can go over there and get my fill! so while i would love to have it, i recognize that i may not, but that i can find fulfillment that is within my means. 

so we have a lot to think about. a lot to prioritize. but one thing i know for sure is that we would like  be more self-reliant. steve having lost his job twice in a couple years and being left with no income makes us want to seek a way to not rely on someone else for all our earnings. whether it's a side job, a hobby, our own business, living more simply and saving more, whatever it is.. we would like to be more self reliant.

i have dog-eared so many pages in this last book, i'm pretty reluctant to send it back to the library! but a couple little passages that stood out to me {and aren't entire pages!} 

"Happiness.. is the result of conscious choices."

"I don't want to be the Joneses... There's no point trying to keep up when you're thrilled with what you've got."

"The happiest people don't need to get and spend. They achieve fulfillment via self-sufficiency and nurturing their connection with the earth."

"Money is just a tool, like fire. Some people misuse fire, and some people assign too much meaning to money-- whether they love it or hate it.  But like most tools, it's really just a more efficient and useful means toward whatever ends we desire. Even achieving happiness."

i'm sure there'd be a zillion more if i could go thru it better.. and when i actually finish the book! 

but anyways, this is random and i don't have time to make complete sense of it! but my thoughts in a nutshell:

rarely does anyone have it all. essentially everything has its cost.

so we need to ask..

what do we need in life? 

what do we want?

is it attainable and if so, what are the costs?

are they worth it?

and ultimately i think it's about

balance, prioritizing, and sacrifice.

and we can be happy regardless of how much/little we have. 

here is an lds conference address that i often recall when i think about what i want in life... 

favorite passage:

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time {or money} to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now."