If you live in a big city like I do, you have probably found yourself running to catch the train although there’s another one in two minutes, begging the bus driver to open the bus doors to let you in when you’re 3 meters away from the stop.
We metropolitans find ourselves very busy, like if we don’t have time to wait two minutes for the next train, what are we busy with exactly? what is keeping us in such a hurry?
Sit, lay back and ask yourself the above questions, if you can’t find a proper, logical answer, then you are lacking luxury in your life, no matter how many Chanel bags you own and no matter if you can tell time with a Rolex.
The irony of the last sentence is the core statement of this article.
Nowadays, nobody has time to wait, to appreciate the simple things, we are becoming a society that consumes frenetically everything that comes its way, yet when a thirty-ish man is asked what he wants in life, he answers “a happy simple life” abandoning his “being a millionaire” dream as he realises money doesn’t buy happiness. However, it pays for nice hotels and long flights to Asia’s most “instagramy” islands. And even there a man would run to get the most out of his stay.
The real luxury of 2018 is Time!
People spend three-quarters of their lives working hard not having time to appreciate anything just to enjoy the last quarter, like if there was a guarantee on how many years we are meant to live, we’ve become so confident in science, and it -having predicted for us to live until 80- is leading us to think that there’s a contract stating that if we eat whole grain bread, lots of avocados and have a yoga membership we are meant to reach those 80’s.
I once asked my little sister about her dream, to which she answered “to be retired“, I was astonished by her answer and worried about her future and her career, but then I started wondering if those were the wise words I needed to hear.
I knew it couldn’t be realistic to be retired at a young age, but I didn’t want to wait until I am old and in bad shape to live my full life, instead I decided to be more selfish about my time and energy.
I started the exercise of appreciating what I already had and came to the conclusion that I didn’t need complicated things to be satisfied, I listed all the positive things in my life (living in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, having access to education, culture nice brunch places) and balancing it with the negative aspects that give that necessary “bittersweet” feeling that allows me to appreciate the good things even more.
I became more self-conscious about inner happiness and how I invest my time, I could stay at home for a whole weekend if that is what will truly make me appreciate a “slow life”, without worrying about not having much to tell the co-workers on Monday about all the activities I am supposed to do as a Parisian during the weekend.
If I had to sum up this post, I would say that I am no happiness guru, but I am happy right now, and I can list a few things that I did to achieve that:
1/- Take time for yourself, for your own well being and invest it in what makes you selfishly happy
2/- Nourish yourself with self-love and good reads
3/- Create more, it is nice to be on the other side of the “consumption cycle” once in a while
4/- Allow yourself to be bored from time to time, It will help you appreciate your crazy fast life
5/- Surround yourself with quality friends (better have a good one than a dozen bad ones)
Here’s a collage I did which is compliant with the definition of “2018 satisfying” that includes the mandatory white wall and palm leaves.
Taking time to relax in a frenetic world led by social media
2 comments
It’s a very true reflection of our society these days. Beautifully written
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