RuthAnnHarnisch.com

Dullicious

by Ruth Ann Harnisch on 06/13/10 at 7:35 am

Day 160

I almost picked up my computer by its screen just now, but I stopped myself. Why? Because yesterday I saw somebody else’s computer disintegrate: screen, frame, guts, whatever was attached to the keyboard was in dozens of pieces. I never knew that part of the laptop had so many, many separate hunks, strips, slabs, UFOs.

Two things occurred to me: first, the aforementioned ”never pick up another computer by its screen, ever.” 

And secondly, I am reminded that there was a time in my life when an unexpected expense like that would have devastated my finances, might have jeopardized one or more of my jobs, could have been the beginning of the slide to Bag Lady.

Which reminds me of the late “Father of Coaching” Thomas Leonard’s admonition: Always have reserves, in every area of your life.  Have reserves of money, of time, of energy, and yes, of access to a computer in case yours crashes, literally or figuratively.

My Sicilian grandfather tried to teach this to me, but I didn’t get it.  He asked me to save $10 a week from my $90 salary. I told him I couldn’t afford to live on what I made, forget about saving.  He asked me if I would still want the job if it paid $10 a week less, and of course I would have wanted that job.  So, he asked, why won’t you save the $10?

That did not make sense to my young self, but it makes sense to my old self, who is probably close to Grandpa’s age when he was trying to tell me these things.

It is better, I have learned, to have or use less in order to maintain generous reserves.  The person who lives modestly with big, deep, diverse assets in reserve is richer than the mortaged-up-to-here McMansion owner.

The same is true with less tangible assets of energy, attention, caring.  I have noticed, during this time of deliberate clearing and simplifying, that expending less in order to maintain generous reserves is a calmer way to go through life.

I would have found that so boring when I was young.  Now I find it incredibly, irresistably, deliciously attractive.