Happiness is a fairly nebulous concept. It can include everything, nothing and every combination in between. Each person’s formula for it is different but it’s almost guaranteed that everyone alive wants it, to some degree or another. I mean, no-one wants to be miserable, right? So that would mean they would choose happiness if given a choice.
I haven’t quite figured out my entire happiness formula yet; it’s more of a constant work in progress. Parts of my formula include moody seas, mountains, simplicity, balance, happy relationships with my friends and family. FREEDOM. Scotland contains quite a few of those elements, which is why it keeps calling me back.
I’d love a life where I could write, take photos & travel and make a living doing those things. A life where my time is my own with no schedule to live to; where I’m no more fixed than a leaf floating down a river, free to go where life takes me. Instead I’m anchored in one place, to one job, in one life. Life isn’t smooth sailing, it’s not meant to be. If I had to draw a comparison, I’d choose a hurricane. Total mayhem and carnage, chaos and madness, followed by a period of calm for a while, then it all kicks off again.
When we anchor ourselves to one fixed outcome, we’re a bit like a boat in hurricane. When the seas rise, our boat is tied to a short rope and we cannot rise with the water. We can only go as far as the rope allows, and if the rope isn’t long enough the boat will sink or it will snap. Either way, it’s a pretty shitty scenario.
Being free to float with life’s waves, there’s a fairly good chance we can ride out the waves if we stay balanced. Without balance, the boat will tip over and sink anyway. Balance and flexibility are the keys.
Debt is an anchor with a very short rope. We are leashed to our jobs in the hope it will keep the sea of debt from drowning us. The constant onslaught of advertising keeps us wanting more things, more stuff, the trappings of ‘success’ and each time we fall prey to ‘stuff’, the shorter that rope gets.
Don’t get me wrong, this is not a judgment against possessions. It’s a call to evaluate your happiness formula. If happiness is building a comfortable life with all the creature comforts and luxuries, then absolutely do it! Always choose happiness, no matter what shape that comes in for you. My disclaimer here is don’t let the price you pay for that happiness be an anchor tying you to a bad thing. You cannot buy happiness with debt. The debt might buy you a pretty fancy boat but remember, being fancy didn’t save the Titanic. Bad luck and shitty planning can have dire consequences, no matter how big and safe you think your boat is.
There is security in being neatly anchored in a harbour and that’s absolutely OK. We’re not meant to want the same things in life; that’s the party. I’m a no-anchor kinda gal, which terrifies my family regularly because they are mostly safely-in-the-harbour people. They love me anyway even while I’m sawing through the last anchor rope holding me here.
If you need an anchor, roots, a steady shelter, then my only request is: find things that make your rope longer so you can ride out the storms. Anything that shortens that rope is a huge fat minus sign in your happiness formula. ADD rope, don’t minus it away. The longer your rope, the easier it is to ride over the waves because trust me, there will ALWAYS be waves.
Hello, thanks for taking the time to reply. Do you have any specific posts that have spelling issues? I’m usually a stickler for spelling problems, so if there are errors, please let me know which posts they are on and I will correct. It might be that I sometimes switch between UK spelling and US spelling of certain words. Have a great day!