Love for Life
- April 2014
- Hi Steph Simple Living
Steph,
I read your about me at the right time. I just graduated nursing school and have a career now. I have been climbing for 4.5? years….where does the time go?! I live in Nebraska and have sent you an email about the flatlands probably 3 yrs ago.
I find life tempting me the wrong direction sometimes. I am surrounded by friends and colleagues who own homes, new cars, nice clothes, and wonderful things. I want to save money to go on trips, have my own climbing gear, and save enough to move to Boulder (my heart and soul belong there), but I somehow get off track. I feel like a dark shadow is following me, waiting to swallow me up into a life I don’t dream it to be.
Reading your posts helps me remember the human I want to be. Thank you for your kind and courageous voice & your love for life. You inspire so many people, me being one.
Emily
P.s. here is a picture of Oso, my corgi/german shepherd.
Hi Emily,
Thanks for writing and for the picture of Oso!
Here’s what I think about material things: we need them to live and enjoy life, but that’s it. I make an effort to make sure that I own stuff, rather than it owning me–I do my best to take care of the things I have and stay diligent about trying to only have what I need. It’s amazing how much time and energy stuff can demand, especially when we are simply trying not to have too much of it! I am careful not to acquire irrelevant stuff, and to be strict about giving stuff away or selling it or taking it to the thrift store when I find I have things I’m not using or that are excessive. One of my friend always laughs at me, because I give her clothes and say, “I really love this jacket! Do you want it?” and she says, “well, why don’t you keep it?” and I always tell her, “I’m just not wearing it, so I can’t have it anymore. But I really like it!”
Taking care of what you have means that you are always satisfied with what you have and really appreciate it (your used car, your small dwelling–maybe one and the same?)–rather than coveting more or newer or better all the time. When it comes to material items, I like knowing exactly what I have and where it is at all times and that it’s clean and in good working order and that I can find it instantly when I need it–this makes it easy to pack for a trip and also makes life seem simple and calm. This view of stuff also completely lifts you out of the cycle of materialism that is so pervasive in our society, and allows you to observe it as an outsider rather than being dragged into it. The best thing in life is to be free, and that includes being free of the control that stuff can have over you.
So that’s what I think about stuff 🙂
Steph
I did buy a new car last May. (I know zero about fixing them so that’s why I bought new.) I kept my previous one until the engine blew… It was shooting my horse. That car had been all over the U.S. with me. I went without one for 4 years because I didn’t need one. Anyways, the guy kept trying to sell me the next model up. I told him for the third time, “Look! I don’t need a GPS, I don’t need to know the temp and I don’t need a moon roof. All I want is A/C and power windows. My dog and gear can fit in this smaller version just fine. So I own a plain little Hyundai hatchback and the features that it does have come standard on all their vehicles. I feel no need to keep up with Jones’ or to own things that make me “look good.” You only need what you need. The rest are just compensating for something they are lacking elsewhere.