Worth it.
Living in a tiny house on water, the chapped lips from the wind and the weather, the bruises from falling around the boat bouncing on waves, the nausea on the first sails out after landlubbing, are so worth it when you arrive at places like the one above.
We gladly save every penny and live without common luxuries, because we have everything we need right here. We hear from friends that we’re crazy and suicidal; most would never want to live like this. Some share our dream, but find that their life doesn’t allow for this kind of adventure, yet. What are they waiting for? Life slips away if we’re not noticing and in an instance, it seems, it’s half over. Or more than half.
I wish I would have known when I was young, that we can do anything we want. Most often it takes a while, experiences and money. Some dreams are harder to reach than others, but all are attainable. How do I know that? Because I have lived long enough and have seen firsthand that humans have enormous potential. Every one of us can reach their dreams, if we would stop stopping ourselves. The fear of not being able to reach our goals makes us flunk exams, never ask that girl out, never learn to play guitar. I believe it is 90% hard work and only 10% raw talent to achieve what we want. What makes people extraordinary is tenacity, resourcefulness and determination to do something worthwhile. What I wasn’t told back then was that at the core of all greatness is selflessness. Morals and a good heart have brought people personally further and made them happy, way more than privilege and money. If privilege and money are your core values, they are hard to obtain.
People in power or wealth don’t share, really. That’s why they have power and wealth. I found, that the powerful and wealthy I have met, had very little except for money. Some got rich involuntarily, they set out to invent something or imagine a different solution and it led to wealth. Obviously that isn’t everyone’s path, nor can it or should it be. These people were different and didn’t let anything stop them. We hear their stories, because they became rich. There are millions worldwide doing great things for humanitarian causes or environmental efforts and, yet, they remain nameless to us, but certainly not to the people and causes they serve.
I read recently an article in an economics magazine about happiness. They concluded that the quest for happiness does not bring happiness rather the quest for helping others does. This sounds like a cliché and even more so printed in a magazine advising individuals on wealth management. But they are right.
The other day in Bahía San Evaristo, a fishing village at the end of a long dirt road on the Baja, we met an Australian cruising couple, which gave out reading glasses to poor communities. Sponsored by their local Lions Club, they travel since 2008 and gave away over six thousands pairs so far. We watched as Frances helped fishermen, woman and kids choose their pair. The moment they had found the right pair and they could see, their eyes lit up. A happy smile sprung on their faces, Frances joining their victory. ‘Their world doesn’t offer them much choices, so apart from them seeing clearly, often for the first time, we make sure that they find the right pair they can see well with and like.’ Frances points out, ‘The smile is the clue.’ One of the fishermen, pained with red eyes from sun and wind, also got artificial tears and wrap-over sunglasses. Upon finding his perfect pair of glasses to correct his nearsightedness, he exclaimed laughing ‘There is a mosquito on that cactus!’ We met him again the next day and his eyes were not red anymore and my heart jumped.
Finding something worthwhile to do while on this earth is key and also occasional successes are important. For years I was involved in the green building movement, designing outdoor spaces for private clients and the occasional public space, I donated the designs for. I lectured to company employees, who were still trying to grasp the idea of environmental design and coached them to come around, even if the value of such thinking might not be monetary, initially. I also enjoyed the contact with the clients, most smart, educated and wealthy, they easily grasped the idea of sustainable gardens, an eco system created in their back yard. Once a client smelled the mulch, we put on open soil to suppress weed growth, and he said that the smell reminded him of his childhood walks through the forest. This was priceless.
We all need those moments of connection. There is a deep understanding in us about connecting to others and how this feeds our soul. Our soul nurtures happiness and that is why money can’t buy happiness. Only if our soul is happy, we are too. In fame and wealth we are separate, essentially alone. We fear others want to take from us what we posses. We can choose what we value. If it is money we value, then that is what they will take. If we value smiles, connection and sharing, every person and every contact will be an addition to our inner wealth. Inner wealth comes with the choice that does not value outer riches.
‘Every day is a good day’ says Lupe, the owner of a small restaurant in Bahía San Evaristo watching Frances giving out those glasses at one of his tables. And so it is.
More about Lupe in ‘Lupe Therapy’ here
