What is really important

Many of us are so caught up in making a living that we forget to make a life.

For me, lately, it seems that my day rushes by while I watch, helpless to slow things down.

We enjoy our homesteading lifestyle, attempting to become more self-sufficient with each passing season. This is not something we want to give up.

However, the 'real' world demands that we have money, which means we need jobs, at least for now. Living more like other people, and less like homesteaders, would only mean we needed more money, and therefore have to work more hours.

Homesteading is something we can do together, as a family. Working at a 'real job', well, not so much.

We have our two year plan. But I want to go now. Right now. This very minute. I don't want to spend another day missing DH while one of us is working.

So I wonder what I can give up to move things along. I plan and budget and worry, watching precious moments fly by, time spent elsewhere.

Recent events have shown me that life is short, and every moment is a precious jewel that should be polished and admired, and cannot be recovered once spent. I see families argue over the inane, put off spending time together, never appreciating that this moment, right now, is the one that matters. Their time is spent rushing from one mundane thing to the next, buying the right clothes and the right cars, not realizing that those things, those useless, ugly things, will be left behind, tossed aside to the thrift shops or auction, when they are gone.

I don't want any of that. No fancy cars, no showcase homes, no expensive clothes. I want my family. I want what is really important. And I want it now.