I read this in a blog last week and it couldn't have come at a better time...
"Now that I feel like I have more balance in my life, I'm learning how to be more present. I am one of those people that is always looking forward to the next step, always saying "Won't life be great when..." That is so damaging! My dad once told me that the secret to happiness in life is to be conscious of what is uniquely great about your current situation and put your focus there."
Oh man... amen, sister, preach it! I, too, often tell myself... "won't life be great when..."
When we ... buy a house, launch our business, have no debt, lose 12 pounds, take the trip to Bali.
I guess I can start with trying to take the bloggers advice... So what is great about our current situation? I can think of some things:
- Living in Colorado: I think I've somehow lost the elation I felt when I moved to Denver. What was once exciting is now just our normal life, and I've neglected to appreciate the positives of what living in Denver offers. I'm not sure how or when this happened, but it seems like I'm at this place that I think every city is better than this one. SO not true. We live in a ridiculously ideal neighborhood that allows us to be a one car family and walk to neighborhood eateries, bars, shops, post-office, grocery and whatnot. Jeremy can take the light-rail to work every day, allowing him to read and listen to music and not be in traffic, and allowing me to have my husband around more. We have about every type of landscape available to us and within a 4 hour drive (besides large bodies of water, which is why every trip we take we HAVE to get to water!). The air is fresh and people are nice. All good things!
-Paying off debt: Considering the unemployment rate and the economic situation, paying off debt is a luxury we have only because we have decent jobs that we've managed to hold onto for over 6 years, plus our rent is low. But paying off debt is so painful. It feels like you're sending a big check away to nothing. Has anyone else been through this? I know it's going to something... but to things and experiences that have already passed. It's overwhelming to me that we have at least 21 months to go until no car payment, no student loans... nothing, but still... that seems so far away!
Since we started Dave Ramsey's plan, we've been able to put almost $1800 a month into our debt. That's such a big amount, but one we've gotten so use to paying that I can't even imagine what it will feel like for that to be open money. For now- all i can think of is what a cute house we could afford with all that dough. But where does my focus need to be? On being full of gratitude that we are able to pay off debt and still afford a cute dress and a date night here and there... what a luxury! (side note: we do not share the same politics as dave ramsey, but i can still listen to that mans podcast every single day and not get sick of him. love me some D.R! He called someone a "butthole" a few months ago. Who calls someone a "butthole" past 6th grade? That's why he's awesome. Plus- the plan is simple, but good, if you need to get control of your money)
Vacations, anywhere: Because I've been able to do a fair share of traveling, I easily lose sight of what a vacation really is. A vacation is trip anywhere fun that isn't home (30 minutes or 30 hours away). We take a good amount of weekend trips and yet I am still whiny as hell about not getting to travel internationally enough. What a white whine!
Last night we had a nice big talk about our honeymoon/1 year anniversary extravaganza trip- what we want to spend vs. what is reasonable. Because we're trying so hard to get the debt off our shoulders, any extra cash we spend on something that isn't essential has to go to debate. For one of the first times EVER, I was the one that voted to not go on a crazy expensive trip. Jeremy said "Oh- I'm so proud! My Jewishness has rubbed off on you!"
Now we'll have to get creative with ways to celebrate our 1 year anniversary and the honeymoon we never took. We might still go somewhere, but not to Bali and Japan... not right now, at least. And ultimately, if we're together having fun, can't anywhere be magical? (Except Disney World... don't listen to the lies! It's not magical!)
So yeah... we don't own a home. And because of that I can't buy all the wallpaper and vintage items and paint my kitchen hot pink. We can't travel like some of our friends do and our passports will stay moderately empty for now. And we feel broke... and will continue to feel broke for the next two years.
But life is so good for us everyday. Good food on the table, faithful friends always on the other end of the phone or in person, a lovely (although small) place to live and a loving partner to share it all with. that is what is great about our current situation and i'm working to put my focus right there, where it belongs.
