becarlson

My plan is to buy a Round the World Ticket, and spend a year or more exploring the world. I don’t believe one can fully appreciate a place when they are only there for a week or two. One really needs to spend a lot longer there.

I’m not sure I am ready to abandon soda completely (Mountain Dew just tastes so GOOD!!), but I definitely want to work at minimizing it as much as possible, saving a cold, delicious can of Mountain Dew for special occasions.

My plan is already working as I gave up carbonated beverages for lent.

I feel that material possessions can weigh you down. It is hard for most people to understand this since we work most of our lives to gain material possessions. Perhaps it even goes back to childhood when we fight with other kids to “own” toys. However I have learned how ultimately liberating it is to get rid of most of your material possessions. I don’t feel one should live completely free of all material possesions, but we should strive to get by with the bare minimum required to live in today’s society – clothes, laptop, camera, cell phone.

The first thing to go will be my car. This will be really difficult because I love my car. When I thought further on the subject I realized all the responsibilities of owning a car were draining. You have to clean it often. If it gets “hurt”, you have to take it to a “doctor” to get fixed, and deal with the emotional issue of your “baby” getting smashed. If someone steals it you are really put out, insurance or no insurance. These things really weigh you down. All these things are baggage.

After making the mental leap of not owning a car, it will be somewhat easier to get rid of other material possessions. Of all my material possessions I guess my computer, digital camera, and items I have acquired during my travels are probably my most treasured possessions. As for the computer, it is after all just a tool.

On the rare occasion when I’ve dreamed of winning the lottery, I never dream of buying anything. No house, car, boat, etc. What I dream of is the luxury of being able to go anywhere at anytime in a comfortable manner and to rent anything I need. Money buys you that freedom.

Oh, how liberating it will be when one minimizes possessions!