Buying Tangibles vs Experiences
Childhood Views on Spending: Buying Goods I was raised believing when I spend money, I should spend it on durable goods, something I can have and hold for some extended period of time. I believed, and was mostly taught, this was a frugal and thrifty way to live. As a youth I rarely purchased things like candy bars, food, or anything that was “consumed” in a short period of time. I only spend money on things that I could...
Simple Living: Having and Doing Less
One of the core concepts of 7ism is simple living. I apply simple living to all aspects of my life from my physical possessions to my daily to-do list. It is an all encompassing principle in my life centered around reduction of having or doing too much. Reduction of Physical Belongings Over the past several years I have been reducing the amount of physical belongings I have. In 2010 I owned a four bedroom house completely full of...
Monkey Brain: The Inability to Calm the Mind
My girlfriend tells me I have monkey brain; my brain just can’t calm down and stop jumping from thought to thought. It is a major hurdle when I’m in the midst of trying to learn to be mindful, live in the present moment, and learn the art of meditation. Having a monkey brain is the biggest single barrier holding me back from attaining a calm mind. Why do I have a monkey brain? I’ve pondered this question. I’m...
Selling Everything in 77 Days
My goal was to sell all my belongings, including my house, in a short 77 day period of time in order to travel the world with just a carry on bag and computer bag. Although I ultimately ended up renting out my house rather than taking a $60,000 loss, I feel I accomplished my goals in an efficient manner. In many ways, I actually made money on some items. The key was to follow a seven step process which I came up with myself. 1. What...
Planting Flower Bulbs Upside Down
I’m great a growing weeds; they thrive under my close care and gardening skills. However, it is the rest of the green stuff that doesn’t seem to do so well. Perhaps it is my lack of watering or not understanding soil types or fertilizer. I seem to do better with cactus than weeds. Maybe that is because I lived in Las Vegas for 17 years. After a bit of encouragement from my best friend, this spring I made my first attempt...
Waiting for an Appointment
Perhaps one of my biggest pet peeves is making an appointment with a business professional, like a doctor, and then sitting and waiting in a reception room for 30 or 40 minutes before the person will see me. Medical doctors seem to be the worst at this. I believe if we didn’t feel deathly ill and not have other easy options, most of us would walk out and go elsewhere with our business. The big question is, how long do you feel is...