A Celebration: Our Switch to Simplicity
Like many of you, I’m discovering how much a simpler perspective on life is making everything in my life happier. It’s all about your attitude. I believe that slowing down makes you more aware and grateful.
Ready for a flashback?
This was us. Married a year, both working and working all the time, every day and every minute… save an obvious camping trip to snap this photo! And boy were we learning.
The crankiest and unhappiest people I know have always been incredible workaholics. Maybe not all workaholics are like this. I just know that some people I’d been around never seemed happy. They never had enough. A plane, a huge house, huge cars, month-long international vacations, season passes to everything, regular dinners at the best restaurants in town… and no constant happiness.
Now don’t get me wrong. These people were very good people, and I think they all had only the best in mind. Sometimes you can get in a rut of needing more. You can’t be happy until you get the next thing, and by the time you reach that thing, you’re already saying, “Well we’ll be happy when we get…”
One man told me that after five years of marriage, it would be exactly how Martin and I would become. I think he was referring to the constant bickering between he and his wife; I interpreted his comment as a reference to constant unhappiness and busyness that they both experienced.
Several months later, Martin and I slammed the breaks. We wanted joy.
We both quit our jobs.
We canceled our lease.
We moved on.
The idea of Germany entered our minds.
Martin had a dream of working in renewable energy (which he’s now working on!), and I had a dream of becoming something more – something that wasn’t measured by the number of hours I could log in an office.
And that’s how we got to where we are today, and we couldn’t be happier for this decision what feels like so long ago.
Was there a moment when you decided to change your direction? How did you turn toward more simplicity in your life?
October 19th, 2010 at 9:17 am
I have to say, I am a bit jealous at this story! :) What did you do in between deciding to make a change, and actually executing that change? You must have had a plan, yes? How long did it take you to get your plan fulfilled, or at least to where you felt comfortable? I think that is the issue that keeps a lot of people from choosing to set off towards their dream. They are afraid of their idea/business/etc not working, having to go back to the “old way” and tell everyone that they failed, having something bad happen that derails everything.
One word of caution, and if you already realize this I apologize! Not everyone who works a lot is working to have more stuff. My father has his own business which he LOVES, and would be called a workaholic. He is not into getting more stuff–he just LOVES his job. (The man fights with my mother when she insists on throwing out workboots with holes in them! He says, “They are still good, I just won’t wear them when it’s wet outside.”)
I am one of those cranky, unhappy people sometimes, but I don’t think I’d ever call myself a workaholic. I would work part time if I could–and I truly wish I didn’t have to work, that I could indulge my desires and dreams and have all of my needs provided for. My job, which is full time, plus some, provides my DH and I with health insurance, which we both need due to previous health problems. (And honestly, everyone really does need some kind of coverage, even if it’s catastrophic)
Do I like my job? No. Do I like that 30% of my salary goes to said health insurance? Absolutely not. I often feel trapped, but as of right now there is no other way. DH makes so very little, working for a non-profit, that even if we rented, I couldn’t NOT work. Where we live is just too pricey, and for several reasons, we cannot uproot ourselves from where we live.
I think that is what’s behind so many people feeling unhappy with their lives, and regardless of how clever they are at saving, living simply, etc…there still is a need to bring in income, and so many have to do it in ways that aren’t pleasing.
Just some thoughts…thanks for allowing me the space! :)
October 19th, 2010 at 9:35 am
You are so right, Rabbit! There are absolutely people who work so much because they truly love it. The problem we were seeing in our situation was that the heavy workload tore these families, and it was straining us, too. the balance is so very different for everyone.
I’ll keep your thoughts/questions in mind for future posts. Hmmmm…!
Katie
October 19th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Ooooh….fantastic! I definitely want more details on how this “all came to be”, if you will! Congratulations, btw! What a wonderful milestone!
xoxo,
Lindsay
October 19th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
I always assumed I’d be a working mom, but after a few months of being mom…matt and I made drastic changes to our spending and saving habits and pinched pennies here and there to make it work for me to be a stay at home mom. I’ve never been happier or more fulfilled in all my life!
Love that photo of you guys! Just gorgeous, you two. The scenery, too! :)
October 19th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Fabulous post, Katie…
I think lots and lots of people do what they do because that is what they’re “supposed” to do. As my husband and I came to realize that doing what society expected of us wasn’t making us happy, we put on the brakes and got out of Dodge…only to recreate the same lifestyle in a new place. Why? Because it was familiar. In the past two years, we’ve implemented a plan of deliberation, working steadily towards goals that we continually discuss and assess. It is so liberating…and it allows us to advise our now adult oldest child to do what he wants to do, not what he thinks others want him to do.
October 19th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
I don’t think I ever had a moment of deciding to live simply. I grew up poor and simple by default. I have always wanted to live simply and travel widely. Having kids complicates life a lot, but I am slowly working at beating back the complications and seeking simplicity again.
October 21st, 2010 at 4:55 am
Wow, what a wonderful message, and delivered with perfect timing. This is just what I needed to hear. My husband and I have been working too much and I think I needed a reminder to cut out the unnecessary. Thanks ;)