Many people feel that their lives should be changed – they want it different. The space for personal initiative is too small, habits and routines are heavy, making enough money is a heavy load, you are tied up in things you must do, there is little real action, no excitement, even too little money, insecure job. Life could be better.
So you must change, and trying to think about the good life, here are some considerations:
- First you must have money, and paid activity is usually necessary. But it must not be your end all, your everything, as there are many worthwhile things to consider. And too much money is not really required. In work follow what you would love to do, they say. That gives you passion, interest, energy and moves you forward. And avoid big companies as they tend to tie you down, to involve you in bureaucracy, jobs are standardised.
- You must eat so you must consider growing some food, get some food from close sources, or even take part in procuring food. Most people do not go near growing food themselves, but interest is growing in urban agriculture, small-scale projects, aquaponics in your home, even permaculture in your garden or backyard. This could be both healthy, wise and economical, even challenging and fine as a part of a diversified life.
- You want to be a creative person, use you creative abilities, see that you can use your abilities, hands, feelings, make things grow from your hands, and using your creative side of the brain. So you must find activity that suits you, that you like to do, that is enjoyable or challenging. The possibilities are endless – it is all your choice. Goldsmithing, making dolls, calligraphy?
- You must contribute to a better society by looking around, offering your services to needy people, personally or through an organisation, voluntary is good. Near you there will always be people, groups, institutions that need help, so go find out.
- You must have free time to reflect, and you must educate yourself all the time so you know what is good, what we know now and what would be good to know. The world is progressing, and there is always new knowledge to be had. See to it that you are active in this area – life will be fun, interesting and rewarding. Writing a blog or a book can also be rewarding in several ways.
- Fitness is a good thing – and a daily routine is good, variation is good, and need not be heavy or a strain.
- You must travel to see what others do, tell them what you do, tell them new things, what about travelling at least one month a year – the world is big and very interesting. You can see things, learn things new, even participate in local projects with local people, learn their language perhaps.
If you can manage to be active on all these fronts, life will be fine.
Time spent is another matter: you sleep about 8 hours a day, so you have 16 hours a day to do your living, or you have about 3 or 4 hours a day for each of these things. That would be a great combination. It is rather radical to say that work for money need not be more than 4 hours a day?
In addition to 3-4 hours of paid work you could do:
- permaculture or finding out about the new sustainable frontier of agriculture
- play the flute, do photography or……
- craftmanship of your choice
- social work that is useful, an activity that you love to do.
- free time, what you fancy, socialise, play, think, exercise or whatever – you have 3-4 hours on average every day for that
- be a local politician in a transparent, sharing and loving society
These activities could also maybe add to your income?
Remember there is no time on or off, everything you do is part of living your life. You have integrated what you do into a whole, a seamless life that is good. And a good life is superior to any career.
Well, you should really think about doing it.
