Comments on: This Weekend I’m Wondering…

By: Stella

Stella — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:36:50 +0000

I love the idea of the simple life, but the reality for me seems to be working long and hard for just enough to pay the bills. There has to be a better way!

By: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan Fields — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:16:00 +0000

Love the continued comments and thoughts! It’s interesting, too, how a lot of folks view a basic dichotomy between earning a lot of money and doing what you love or living simply. I am a believer that these things can all be had, if they are all priorities. It may not be easy, but it is doable through a concerted effort over time. Curious what you all think about this?

By: Martin

Martin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:14:58 +0000

Personally I like the simple life, I define a simple life as “stress free” or “fear free” or “worry free”. I look for balance in my life, balancing work, rest and play (generally in equal parts). And appreciate having more then I need.
My basic needs are:
food
shelter
community (friends and family)

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:47:03 +0000

I go for working less. As long as it’s not poverty, freedom to make whatever you want with your time is one of the greates rewards you can get.

By: Kelly, Authenticity Evangelist

Kelly, Authenticity Evangelist — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:43:04 +0000

No doubt. It is time over money. I love being curious and have yet to find the job, aside from working for myself and clients, that allows me the full freedom and flexibility to explore to my heart’s content.

I love nice things…but not enough to sell my time.

By: Dickie Jones

Dickie Jones — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:28:12 +0000

Personally, I would just enjoy making enough to get by. If i could sell my degrees on ebay they would be gone already.

By: No Debt Plan

No Debt Plan — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:29:34 +0000

I had this question run through my head this weekend… it isn’t an easy thing to answer.

In the end, if you do something you love and can earn a living from it, you’ll never work a day in your life.

That is, if your passion is to do something that typically pays $40,000 per year max… you’ll need to adjust your lifestyle if you want to do what you love.

A lot of people refuse to make that choice and instead pick the higher stress, higher pay career.

By: tannage

tannage — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:16:39 +0000

I think we should replace the word “money” with “value”. Do things that add value to your life. It’s that satisfaction and energy you get from doing something you love that adds “value” to your life, and it’s easy to get stuck in a job that pays you “money” but every day you die a little more.

I’d work hard at something I loved doing, up till the point where it ceased to add value to my life, if I couldn’t have any quality time with my wife for instance.

This whole idea of adding “value” to life is the reason why I’ve just fired my job. Extremely well paid, but too boring, too soul-destroying and not adding anything to my life.

I’m going to be a writer instead! Not well paid at all but I’m going to be happy and I know I’ll make ends meet!

By: Krasimir

Krasimir — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:44:40 +0000

Honestly, I prefer option #3 – work less, earn more money I know, this is not so easy… Simple life is a good thing but these 2 options have many “depends on” stuff around them. “Work less” option sounds really good at first look but I don’t think it really works for many people.

By: Maya

Maya — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:35:12 +0000

I have a problem – I love a simple life …but for me working really hard seems to be a part of having a really simple life. It is about going for the joys of hard work and dreams realized rather than just the money. Oh yes, I love the security that money brings – not really the spending power.

Ideally, I would like to work like crazy, enjoy myself, make a bunch of money and then take a break enjoy the break, spend some money and then go back to working again. Would you call that one kind of a middle ground? Perhaps …