work harder

#12

The Glass Castle.

If you haven't read this book, go out and buy it immediately. I'm serious. It might change your life. Ever since I read it, I've been thinking about how good I have it, even when I think I don't, or, especially when I think I don't. It reminds me that I have enough, that actually, I have too much. That I should be very grateful. And maybe learn to live a little less wastefully. Certainly less materialistically. Yesterday, Jazz and I went over our budget and thought about financial planning. We're adults now, so we have to do that. It's new for us.

Every time I came inside from the cold these past three days, I'd think about how I have indoor heating and plumbing, and I don't have to sleep with a tarp over my head to keep out the rain that falls from the hole in the ceiling. Or, I'd think about how we can have three square meals a day if we want, more even, and we don't have to fight over a Hershey bar for dinner. I thought about how none of my shoes have holes in them, and if they did, I'd just chuck them out and buy new ones. Basically, I'm completely (at least physically) without want.

There is also something about knowing that if I had to live on melons, or food out of the trashcan, I could. Not that I'd want to. And not that I'd EVER want to subject my children to that. But it can be done. It's a freeing thought.

This may not seem particularly inspirational to some, but for me, it was a little light. To know that if we don't ever get to buy and restore an old farm house in the country, or live in a beach house, or even, if we never own our own home, it's okay. 

That's not what life's about. 

I don't know why but this book reminded me that life is about bigger things than where you live or what you do or what you eat. (Obviously.) But the thing is, for the kids in the story, that's PRECISELY what life was all about. Yet, perhaps they were stronger because of their childhood. Maybe they wish they hadn't grown up that way, but I envy parts of what they went through. 

They were not as spoiled as we are. They learned to appreciated things that we take for granted.

I think hearing their story made me a little stronger as well. 

Maybe I should go live in the mountains?

P.S.

In some places people know today as "Work Harder" day. In light of the past three snow days we've had (and the subsequent lack of school work I've had to do), I find that extremely amusing. On the other hand, we're going to have classes on Saturday to make up for this past Monday. 

Yep. Fun is never free. You hear that kids?