Last night my wife and I was sitting in the bedroom starring at the new furniture, trying to process our life as it still doesn’t make sense. Before the podcast last week I was asking my brother if he remembers the first time he experienced central air. When we were young I remember all of my siblings pilling on my parent’s bed with our faces next to the air conditioner because that was the only AC in the house. At that time my bedroom was shared with my three older brothers and the room itself might have been half the size of the one I’m in now. I still remember those days and try to live like I did then, waste not want not. Today I was putting together an outdoor table and the table was inherited from the previous owners of our previous house, that’s how we acquired a lot of our possessions. We’ve lived in a lot of places over the years and people leave things behind, or friends will give us something they’re about to throw out. Their trash is our treasure. As I write this I’m sitting at a table that belonged to my wife’s grandmother, we keep it not because it’s special, but because it still works. Avoid unnecessary purchases, I always tell people there’s two ways to get rich, make more money or spend less than you make. It’s nice to be able to buy our own things, I’ll remain cautious not to make a habit of spending. Most of my joy comes from doing work and building something of value anyway. When the moving truck was almost full I told the movers that tools are the most important thing. As a teacher told me, tools don’t cost you money they make you money.
Chris' Morning Pages 