Came across this quote last week and can’t stop contemplating it: Remember when you wanted what you currently have?
Something so haunting, yet so beautiful about it, haha… But in a world constantly pushing us for “more”, it sure is a nice reminder of everything we’ve already achieved/received if we actually take a second to reflect upon it :)
Here’s a short list of all the things I remember really wanting bad over the years – how about you?
- Air Jordans
- Nintendo Game Boy
- A girlfriend
- My own car
- My own place
- A college degree
- A “real” job
- Parties and bars!
- $1,000 in savings (<– the hardest when you’re starting out!)
- A wife
- Kids!
- To become a full-time blogger
- To be more confident
- To not work so much
- To not be so obsessed with money all the time (!)
- To move back to my “happy” place
- To be more generous
- To find myself more
- To find the answer of life
Okay okay, so I’m still working on that last one, but I feel like I’m getting closer! ;) And it lies somewhere within those last few bullet points there – basically setting yourself up to be The Best You possible, which of course money can help with, if only to focus your time and energy better.
Try making your own list today and remind yourself of how far YOU’VE come too! Even if it doesn’t always feel like it at times :)
Don’t stop striving, but remember you’re doing a lot better than you used to be…
Old you would be so jealous!!
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OMG! I love this game! I just shared it with a few people in the recovery (from drugs and alcohol) community. I remember when all I wanted was a sober weekend and a whole day smoke free. I have a list as long as my arm to be grateful for (my own home, a job with a salary over X, happily married, etc) but the item that jumps out most is that when I was a teenager all I wanted was a pair of navy blue Air Max. So badly! And I got them last year (I’m 41!) as some hand-me-downs from my 16 year old nephew whose feet grow like weeds! It was worth the wait! I LOVE THEM!
HAH! Living the dream now!
Glad you’re passing this around to friends too… The one nice thing about struggling is the epic comeback story in the end :) Plus the fact you then know you can DO ANYTHING after that!
This article is great timing for me! I’ve been contemplating buying a new car (cash of course) but forget how much I WANTED and loved my current car. It’s 15 years old this month, but drives like a top and has all the bells and whistles, yet I’m being attracted to all the end of the year deals right now. I’ve already test driven three cars and was really ready to pull the plug. But you made me remember how much I WANTED money in the bank and a nice cushion and here I was about to blow some of it unnecessarily. Of course, my list is much longer than the car, I have been blessed many times and am very thankful. Thanks!
Heyyyyy that’s great!!!
So glad it got you to re-assess in time :)
For that last one, the answer to life is 42, doesn’t everybody know that? ;)
But a great list and thinking back to my own wants, it seems that a lot of what I wanted so badly back in the day, is now just a “eh, good to have it” thing
I had to google that one, haha…
Guess I’m not as much a nerd as I thought I was ;)
It’s 42! :)
This is a great idea. I wanted everything I have, at some point. It’s pretty good for the most part and I don’t need to buy a lot of stuff these days. Of course, the cycle is endless. Now, I want a new TV and XBOX. Money in the bank is good, but you can only put off buying for so long.
My TV: 2007
My XBOX – original… :D
I feel like as long as you’re getting *rid* of the old stuff and just swapping in upgrades it’s not AS bad, haha… At least you’d be tapping your minimalist side ;)
Love this and what a great way to feel gratitude.
I think I have more than I could have ever imagined!
Hooray!!! You win!!
I remember how badly I used to want a car right after I got my license. And a nice apartment instead of the fibro 60’s shack I was renting! You’re right, younger me would be incredibly jealous of my lifestyle
Way to stick it to her ;)
Thank you!
Years ago, friends and I went to a fair and had our palms read. The palm-reader said to me, ‘you’ll never be a millionaire, but you’ll always have enough.’ That was reassuring (although the first part was wrong). Sad though, that I spent so many years in fear of not having enough, even though I was taking the right steps toward FIRE.
I earned just about everything I wanted… except for a tidy, organized garage. Fortunately, that’s a DIY and it won’t bite into the savings account. And with luck and health, I’ll have the next 30 years to make it happen.
I’m grateful for the stuff, and for the time I now have to take care of and to release that stuff.
Haha yeah – I’d say if your garage is your only problem you’re doing better than 90% of the world :) Well done.
Great game, however, the answer is contentment wherever we find ourselves…I have found that I am content now with much and remember being pretty content when I did not have as much…I did still want however!
The apostle Paul spoke about contentment throughout the New Testament but probably most notably in Phillipians 4:11-13 where he wrote,
“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me”
I appreciate you letting me respond to this post with an item on contentment through Jesus Christ…we seem to have the money end of things down.
And thank you for taking the time to do so!
I agree contentment is a great thing to work towards for those of us who need the reminders :)
So very true and yet we often take it all for granted. Thanks for this reminder!
Anytime, friend!! Hope you and the fam are well over there!
I’ve been reading this site for about a year & a half. This is my 1st comment (“it’s me not you” – it takes me awhile to warm up to a site.)
For over the past 30 years, I’ve worked in “PEERLESS ROCKVILLE” ( :) ) & back when I began in 1983, I made what was then the median personal income in America : $14,000. I obsessively thought if ONLY I could someday make $30k, I wouldn’t be rich but I’d bet “set’.
Uh, I was wrong. :)
HAH!!!
We used to be neighbors!! :)
I take it you saw this post from earlier?
https://budgetsaresexy.com/how-to-get-health-wealth-and-comfort-peerless-rockville/
For me the “set” # was $45k, and when it came it actually did affect my life pretty good – but prob only because I was still single and didn’t have a million kids yet ;)
Thx for finally stopping by and saying hello! Very nice to e-meet you.
Brilliant! This is such a great reminder to be grateful and to maintain a positive perspective. It’s so easy to adapt to new circumstances and forget how far you have come. Thanks for sharing.
I used to wish so bad that I had the money to buy all the candy I wanted, specifically a giant bag of M&M’s. Now I have scads of money but can’t eat all that stuff because my body can’t take it!!! Irony.
Haha… sounds about right.
As a kid I lived in hand me downs from a sister two sizes smaller then me. I longed for my own clothes. The trade off is that I learned not to care about clothes at all (so I only buy comfortable).
My other goals- travel, paid for house, stable family, seeing all the Van Gogh I could—all done before 50. I have to say—I love my life!
Hot dogs!! Sounds like a fabulous life, indeed! :)
Yes!!! I am so much happier. I can actually say that I am happy <—such a definite answer. It doesn't have anything to do with money, but that is an effect. You can do a lot of things when the small things don't trip you up.
Amen, sister.
Way to get to that level :)