A Preference for the "Slow Life"
One of the interesting — and perhaps slightly weird — things I have learned about myself over the years is that I am pretty decent at becoming successful at something, but not all that good at being successful.
Those two might sound like the same thing to a lot of people… but actually they are not.
There’s a different dynamic at play… the process of becoming typically involves a lot of challenges and hardship, and I function pretty well under such circumstances.
I remember a conversation I had with my ex-wife many years ago, in which she was insisting that she was ”really good with money.” Truth is that she was actually lousy with money, completely lacking in self-control and planning.
Her perception of being good with money came from the fact that she was — and had been — superb at managing to have a remarkably good life when she had no money.
My point in bringing up that particular conversation is that ”managing money” and ”managing NO money” are two radically different processes.
What’s the bearing on ”being successful?”
Some people need to be ”hungry” in some way in order to be motivated to excellence and success. For others, the drive for success is almost like a genetic drive.
On some level, I have long been aware that this applies to me… perhaps since first becoming aware that as soon as I managed to save up a couple of months’ worth of living expenses, I pretty much stopped working.
I basically don’t like working.
One of the reasons I have often done well as a blogger and article writer is that I can produce a post or a short article, get it published, and then I am done. In a sense, it’s the sensation that my ”obligation” towards it has ended.
I used to think it was boredom or maybe laziness, but I am not so sure anymore. If anything, it’s likely the fact that I work for the sake of comfort, not for the sake of ambition, winning or success.
I just want to be comfortable. I just want to know that there's food, and that the bills are paid. I don't have some long "wish list" of assets I want to own, in order for my life to feel "successful."
In a lifetime a million miles away I almost went off to become a golf tour professional. Yes, I was actually that good," on my early 20s.
In the end, the reason I didn’t was that I wasn’t really motivated by winning, nor by being the best, but by being ”good enough” that I could scrape out some kind of living, doing something I enjoyed. In retrospect, I’m glad I passed on that opportunity.
These days, I'd really rather just work on my art and write. And I would — full time — if it actually paid the bills...
Maybe someday it will, and I can just enjoy the "slow life!"
Thanks for stopping by, and have a great rest of your week!
How about you? Do you enjoy taking life slowly? Or do you prefer filling every moment with action and activity? Leave a comment if you feel so inclined — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!
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Created at 2025.07.03 00:06 PDT
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