Comments for SMART Living 365

Comment on How Trade-Offs and Opportunity Costs Help To Create A Simple & Happy Life by Kathy Gottberg

Kathy Gottberg — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:29:50 +0000

Wow! Thanks to everyone who voted for me And to you Wendy and your website: http://searchingforthehappiness.com It is such a nice way to connect with others and read some of the awesome work that others are doing around the web. Thanks again!

Comment on How Trade-Offs and Opportunity Costs Help To Create A Simple & Happy Life by wendy mccance

wendy mccance — Sat, 25 May 2013 15:42:07 +0000

Congratulations!!! You have won the Blog Contest at http://searchingforthehappiness.com Have a great day.

Comment on How Trade-Offs and Opportunity Costs Help To Create A Simple & Happy Life by Kathy Gottberg

Kathy Gottberg — Sat, 25 May 2013 02:15:01 +0000

Thanks Lois for such great examples of the opportunity costs that your trade offs brought up for you. You are so right about the trade off for a smaller home–and the thoughts that you could actually rent them a hotel room and STILL be so far ahead in your savings that it makes it worth while. And yes, you are absolutely correct that the right choice comes after listening to your heart and soul too–I just like to have all my options considered as well, so my heart and soul areb;t distracted by something else deep within me that I haven’t yet healed or brought to the light just yet. Of course, with all that said, I don’t really think there is a wrong choice with in any of our decisions–just a cost “in spiritual or mental coin” and another opportunity to learn more about ourselves….

Comment on How Trade-Offs and Opportunity Costs Help To Create A Simple & Happy Life by Lois

Lois — Sat, 25 May 2013 00:12:46 +0000

I have made many trade offs in my life. The biggest by far was turning down a job that would have meant not being home for my children. The income I brought in was much lower, but my children had to come first.

More recently, I trade the one bedroom apartment for a studio size. It meant I wouldn’t have a spare bedroom for guests, but it allowed me to save money. Eliminate the need for a car, saving even more and to have the garden I missed and the lake across the street. I see my family more living closer to them. My guests have no problem sleeping in the same space as I do, but if they did I could afford to rent them a hotel room with what I save.

I look at life as a series of forks in the road where we need to make constant decisions. The only way I know how to make the right choice is to listen to my heart which knows the values I hold dear.

Comment on Love to Travel—Love to Come Home by Kathy Gottberg

Kathy Gottberg — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:11:53 +0000

Thanks Gary! And yes, it’s always there (the mirror) if we take the time to look

Comment on Love to Travel—Love to Come Home by Gary Lange

Gary Lange — Fri, 24 May 2013 03:04:39 +0000

Another reminder of that “mirror” of who and what we are!

Comment on The Big Minimalist Question—Kids? Or No Kids? by Kathy Gottberg

Kathy Gottberg — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:23:45 +0000

Hi Sarah….it’s not at all a poor reflection! I think children can be a great purpose in life–at least while they are under your care and direction. But I also happen to believe that there are a number of other equally as wonderful and powerful purposes available to women and men. Unfortunately some of us don’t take the time or energy to discover a purpose that we might be better suited to–and just do what our culture, society or religion teach us without thinking it through. I certainly don’t believe I have answers for everyone or that I’m an expert on anything except maybe my own life–but I do think that we all need to be as conscious and aware as possible about our choices and decisions–and whether or not to have children is pretty high on the list because it is such a huge commitment. One of my intentions with this website is to ask questions and then answer them as honestly as I know how–and thereby help others to do the same. I like to believe as the poet Rumi says, “Out beyond right doing and wrong doing, there is a field. I will meet you there.” I like to think of SMART Living as that field where we sit and talk about things that matter…~Kathy

Comment on Midlife Minimalism—How Your Focus Changes & The Rewards Increase by Kathy Gottberg

Kathy Gottberg — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:12:05 +0000

Hi Sarah…I like to think that the only mistakes a person EVER makes are those they don’t learn from so I’m happy to admit I’ve learned a few things so far –but still have tons to go. Good for you for eliminating all your debt above your mortgage at your age–that’s a huge step and not accomplished by many. But I do encourage you to keep going and get rid of that mortgage if you can because it is impossible to realize just how much freedom comes when you do. Then once person has experienced the freedom and mindset that comes from such actions (like going debt-free and minimal), it opens the door to all sorts of creative purposes that never before seemed possible. Try it and let me know what you think I’ll be reading YOUR blog too to see what happens on the way. ~Kathy

Comment on Packing Light & Other Thoughts on Eliminating The Unnecessary by Kathy Gottberg

Kathy Gottberg — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:01:59 +0000

Hi Sarah…thanks for dropping by SMART Living and leaving comments. They are ALL appreciated! I agree that Lois is pretty difficult to top ~Kathy

Comment on The Big Minimalist Question—Kids? Or No Kids? by SarahN

SarahN — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:10:25 +0000

Perhaps it’s a poor reflection on me, but my ‘reason’ for kids that’s loudest right now is ‘what would I do with my life without them?’ I really wonder how I’d fill my days, and how fulfilling that would be? Please don’t for a minute think I’m asking you to ‘justify’ your life, but I know I would feel like I didn’t have a purpose. I fully intend to continue working with children, but I don’t feel like my work is my purpose. I suppose I’m looking for meaning and depth in life, and I think the relationships with families are part of that spectrum, like friends which you posted about.