Think Before You Add

Are you adding things to your life that are simplifying your days or are you adding to your life things that seem to only complicate them?

No matter what, the concept of ‘adding’ is what can complicate things more than you might think. Even by adding things you think will help you simplify, more times than not it doesn’t always work out that way. It either leads you to more ‘stuff’ you have to store, organize, or one more thing you now own that you have to maintain.

But what is it that makes us feel we have to add? Why are some of us content while others need big, better or the best or the newest thing on the market? Do many people feel it will add comfort or convenience to their lives? Do some people feel more powerful by adding more to their lives, especially the best of the best or the newest of the new, the trendiest or the fastest working?

I will admit I fell for it once. Back when I was 19 I bought a brand new Jeep thinking it would last me forever. Well, we all know cars don’t last forever yet back when I was 19, fifteen years down the road felt like an eternity. Sad to say my $21,000 jeep I saw on the price list wound up actually costing me $27,000 all said and done. Wow, $27,000. You know how far $27,000 could really get you if spent wisely? A lot further then  a brand new car could, that’s for sure.

Now I’m in my 30’s and looking back to that time, the thrill of buying it was great at the time and I will admit I loved every minute of driving that jeep. Yet I will say, I would have been just as happy finding a nice used one for a few grand…like maybe $3,000 or so. I could have banked my hard earned $24,000 extra or better yet used part of it to travel and invested the rest. Like they say, hindsight is 20/20.

I recently sold that Jeep. 🙁  Yes very sad and not because the money I spent on it. That was long gone a long time ago, but because of the memories I had with it. The places we took it and it took us. Yet I only sold it for 1 reason, and that’s because of my little guy. It wasn’t exactly easy climbing over the front seats to get to the back to strap him in. So yes I went bigger. I went from my 2 door to a 4 door Jeep Grand Cherokee. (yes still a Jeep). Yet I didn’t go to a car lot this time, I looked on Craig’s list and found a wonderful one that was only a little over $3,000. It’s safe for my son, I love it and I’m without a car payment. It doesn’t have fancy stuff that’s now equipped with all cars these days. We put in a new radio to replace the old non working one and that Jeep gets us from place to place and has gotten us across the county on some great road and camping trips.

My point is, we’ve all been lead to believe the best of the best is what we need. The newest car, latest phone, most interesting gadget, trendiest clothes whatever else out there, is what we need or ‘should’ have. Yet in reality that’s the furthest thing from the truth. The only way to realize that for yourself is when you find a true focus in your life, something so meaningful to you that really, none of that other ‘stuff’ or those newest and best ‘things’ will matter.

Most things are made to fill up our lives. To keep us ‘busy’…to make the other guy rich. But what about your time and hard earned money? If you really think about it, could it be better spent? Of course it could. We could all use a little wake up on what we are purchasing and adding into our lives.

Yet you will never be able to break the cycle of ‘adding’ without becoming mindful of what you are doing. That’s the first step, it’s to stop and think. Think before you add. Think what value whatever you are bringing into your life that new ‘thing’ will add. I have to say, some ‘things’ do add a tremendous amount of ease and value. That is if it’s helping direct you in the right direction. Think to yourself, do I have a true honest use and need for this ‘thing’ I’m about to bring into my life, or will that thing your adding wind up on the floor of your closet, or at the bottom of a box, or sitting in your driveway almost too afraid to take it out in fear you’ll scratch it?

We’re all free to add to our lives what we wish. We’re all free to spend our hard earned money how we want. What is so important to your best friend might be completely meaningless to you and vice versa. None of it is wrong. Yet stop and think…is it right for you?

Above all things, it’s the loved ones around you, your friends and family, your parents and children that deserve your time and love more than any gadget should get credit for. It’s in nature, the most mind clearing place of all…you’ll get more out of nature than any gadget could offer you. There you could find yourself again, your focus in life and leave behind the rat race of advertising and what ‘everyone else’ has. If you focus on your loved ones, your close friends, or the places that really make you happy, you will realize your life will just become simpler naturally. Your life will become simpler because you won’t be needing the best or the newest. You won’t have that constant desire to add because you will realize life could actually be easier and more mind clearing ‘without’ then ‘with’.

So really, the only way to add things to your life that won’t complicate it more is to take away the excess. Value the things you own that really make your life easier and forget about the rest that adds no value at all to your life. You’ll see with the excess gone, you’ll be adding more value by having more money to do what you really love at heart, or more time to spend with your loved ones. Add more nature to your life. Try if for a while. See what it can do for you. Expose the true value in your life that’s been hiding underneath all the new gadgets and fancy cars. Try simplifying your life by simply taking away the desire to add.