Happiness From Psychology Today: More than simply positive mood, happiness is a state of well-being that encompasses living a good life—that is, with a sense of meaning and deep satisfaction. Research shows that happiness is not the result of bouncing from one joy to the next; achieving happiness typically involves times of considerable discomfort. Money…
Category: Freedom; the escape
Freedom: How we sold our house, gave away our possessions, quit job and moved to the beach in Michigan
May 21st: Doing Nothing
“Do or do not, there is no try” – Yoda Today was a “do not” day… and it was glorious. Nothing accomplished, nothing attempted, brain and body in neutral. A wasted day? Perhaps, if you consider sleeping a wasted night. But sleep is necessary and reinvigorating. A Do Nothing Day can be as well. I…
May 8th: Joy of doing nothing
la dolce far niente Another day, another beach, another sunset. Lifting my eyes, the contrails of jets crisscrossed the sky… people in a hurry to get somewhere. While we sit on the beach, enjoying another sunset, lost in the moment again. Back in Day 52 of my countdown, I brought up “la dolce far niente.” We…
May 7th: Monday, Monday
Monday, Monday Mondays used to suck. The start of another brutal workweek. What fresh hell awaited? Now we have to think … what day of the week is it? Now Mondays mean the start of five days where we can avoid the crowds. Between 9am to 11am, and again from 1pm to 3pm… we own the…
May 5th: Opposites
Opposites What is the opposite of love? Yes, you might believe that the opposite of love is not hate… but instead, it is indifference. So, what is the opposite of growth? What is the opposite of success? What is the opposite of happiness? Going with the love example, perhaps the opposites are really complacency? The…
May 2nd: How does it feel?
Freedom Three people asked me yesterday, “So how does it feel to be retired?” I reminded them that I am not retired, but changing careers. But then I caught myself… yes, I am getting a monthly check from my former employer for the rest of my life. And yes, I will take the entire summer…
T -2 Days: Beautiful pain
It’s a beautiful kind of pain We are so tired, so sore, so ready to be finished with the move. Feel like we have been packing and unpacking for weeks… actually we have. Not complaining at all. Loving life. Delaying the gratification of stepping foot on the beach. May 1st is almost here! We have…
T -5 Days: Leaving
Leaving… My last day of working for someone else. Walked out the door for the very last time an hour ago. So, “it is with mixed emotions”… uh… no. “Leaving is bittersweet”… uh… no again. How about: Leaving is like tasting the sweet nectar of the end zone for the very first time, taking the…
T -6 days: Death to finance
Good bye Excel. Good bye SAP. After tomorrow, it is over, done. “So, if the writing thing doesn’t work out, you could always consult or take another finance job” Oh hell no! I’m going all in on “the writing thing”. Seems that the rule of thumb is three to five years before success will come……
T -10 Days: Someday
Someday I was critical of a Sally Illingworth post a couple of days ago. But this one below, like the vast majority of her content, is spot on. Don’t wait for “someday”. It will never come. Make it happen. But make it happen in an intelligent, planned way. Modify your plan if you discover it…