My wife goes back to work at the end of next week, so it is good that there are some sunny days and warm waters to enjoy, so that she feels like she has at least had some time off. The years where there are no hot days in summer are hard, because it might be two or even three years before a proper summer is felt. Obviously, if travelling it is easy to find a warm spot - but we aren't travelling any time soon.
I am wary of being disappointed with not travelling enough though, because I grew up not travelling myself and it was okay. And still today, travel far from home is definitely a privilege that not everyone has access to. I think in many ways, daily life is made harder because we are so much more aware of what we are missing out on, whereas our parents didn't have as much insight into what they didn't have. There are so many "choices" laid in front of us that seem possible, but they really aren't available.
There is always an opportunity cost to choice.
No one can have it all.
But, it is possible to enjoy what one has. I have been trying to instil into Smallsteps lately, that the people who focus on what they don't have are the ones who don't enjoy life much. Because no matter what is available, there is always something missing. And even if "everything" was available, there are so many degree variations of the same, that there is constant second guessing.
Colleagues of mine were talking about cars and arguing over which is better. The discussion was comparing Audis, BMWs and Mercedes, but no matter how much they fought for one over the other, ultimately, all are pretty much the same. Sure, there are some differences here and there, but they are all in the same class and compete with much the same offering. Had my colleagues been millionaires, they might have argued over a more expensive class, or if billionaires, maybe helicopters and planes. But the argument is the same argument, isn't it?
We each have preferences of course, but it is also likely that our real preference is out of reach for whatever reason, so we have to "settle" for something lesser. We are always settling for less than we want, but if we focus on the gap between what we want and what we have, we will always be in a place of not having.
Today we had warm weather on a beach with cool water to swim in, cold drinks, some snacks and surrounded by trees and nature. We didn't have palm trees and we weren't drinking out of coconuts, and we weren't in a five star hotel. We also weren't in a warzone, or picking through garbage for food, or living under an oppressive regime.
Do we really want everything?
Taraz
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Sometimes it is the small things that bring real pleasure in life...
BMWs and Mercedes's are just cars and cars are simply means to moving my ass from point A to point B. We have an old 2007 S550 and 2019 X5, do they really bring any pleasure? No. Sure it is nice to have the power and comfort, but really I don't think they are that much better than my Ford Taurus I bought right after college.
Cars are just transportation means and they need to be reliable, that is about it. Boats and helicopters and airplanes well that is a billionaire type stuff, but I never wanted any of those and I would rather not take a private plane as I heard that they crash more frequently. No thank you, I will fly with all the regular folks on a commercial jet liner.
Sure we can have all kinds of stuff, but none of it brings any happiness, the only thing that money does do for you is when you have enough and it is generating passive returns that allows you to never work again, that does bring stability, peace of mind and is a good thing. Chasing after nice things is a waste of time.
Some people seem to get pleasure out of imagining people are looking at them as if they are special. In Europe, the roads are littered with luxury German cars - they are taxis.
I didn't know this, but it doesn't surprise me. Less liability if one goes down.
I thought I was getting closer to this - but am now far, far away again!
Same with helicopters btw, do you recall Cobe Bryant:
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/kobe-bryant-lakers-9-victims-2020-calabasas-helicopter-crash/3323182/
and here are the reasons:
https://www.colleyshroyerabraham.com/blog/2025/02/private-jets-and-charter-flights-pose-greater-risks/
Everyone is saying Altcoin season is back on track BTW... ETH gained close to 1000 points in last seven days:
Comparison is what spoiling todays life. People are not content with what they have and alwsys wants more in life. In my opinion a life which fulfill all the basic requirement is more joyful. Finding happiness in every little things around us is more important than looking for it in other materialistic things which we don't have.
It is okay to want something - but many seem to want everything. It just makes us unhappy.
You can tell that little Smallsteps is having a wonderful time this summer holiday. I imagine mum and dad are enjoying themselves too. Best wishes for a great end to the holidays, may you have gathered the energy you need for work and the little one for school. Blessings.
To be honest, I didn't read the post, I'm basing my comment on the pictures.
I reckon it is an age thing. It isn't as much "event, next event, next event" now. I reckon she is starting to experience things in a more complex manner.
I agree traveling far away is a privilege for many. But look at the experiences they give you, ofcourse there's is a opportunity cost to it but so is everything else in life. Trying one in a lifetime stuff like dancing with penguins in Antartica is also a good experience with an added bonus you also get to make some pengu pals 😁
There will be time (probably) for my daughter to travel later. I have already seen and done many things - the interesting part is, most of those amazing experiences barely register as anything meaningful now.
It's simple to get caught up in comparing our lives to those of others, particularly when social media highlights what looks like perfect moments.
social media is filled with the most amazing and the most horrific - it is like there is no in between.
Over the last 2 years I realized that my garden in summer is better than any resort :)
The struggle is the winter :D
Sometimes the simplest days hold the deepest peace, no flights, no luxury, just sun, nature, and perspective.
And some ice cream in the garden. :)
I suppose it is fine to enjoy the nicer things and even have it serve as motivation to work hard and achieve more. Truth is for me that happiness is in the moment and a choice we make. Easy to say but harder in practice as my mind constantly goes back to the work that needs to be done and the progress I should be making right now!
Another key to happiness is having something to look forward to. We have plenty of trips to camp, cottage and sailboats to look forward to this summer. Too many of them on the horizon can leads to a little stress but that is also an elective.
I guess it is wisdom that can regulate our thoughts to have less obsessing over things out of reach or not worth the worry.
Enjoy those warm days!
It is a problem. I have an issue with celebrating the wins of other people (and myself), because there is always the next thing to do.
Which is highest on your list?
Highest on what I am looking forward to the most? A music festival labourday weekend at a friends cottage where we throw up a tent and play a couple sets of music for the crowd.
Travel has gotten so expensive in general. Even the state parks are raising the rates on campsites. Before long it will cost just as much as staying in a hotel!
I have heard that they are going to start charging foreign tourists a lot more to visit state parks.
I hadn't heard that, but I do know that tourism from Canada into my state is down quite a bit because of all the shenanigans.
This really speaks to real life situation. Sometimes we get so caught up in what we don’t have or where we can’t go that we forget to enjoy the little things; like a sunny day, cold drinks, and time with loved ones. I like how you said we’re always “settling” for something, but it’s true that if we keep focusing on the gap, we will always feel like we are missing out. We have all felt this way, too. The truth is that no matter how rich we are, there are things we wished we could have that might not be in our possession.
I think it is also the way life works anyway. We can't always get all we want from life at all times. Attime, we just have to settle for whatever is available.
We can't always get what we want... and this is a massive problem for people who have grown up in an on-demand culture.
Gratitude for what we have certainly makes it easier to go without.
I need to remind myself of this the next time I go chasing another stupid Black Foil!
Did you get one today?
No, I got my last one just before the conflicts started. I wanted to hit my target for conflict points to earn exactly 39 airdrops for 3 guarantee GF. I may buy more BF depending on how much money I can get back for some of my extra airdrop BCX. I also need a few more GFL and there are some commons/rares I only have at silver league for brawls.
I do have the same feeling while doing to study after a good and bright sunday which is really relaxing but as the monday arises it's just so exhausting.!