A Chill Life in the Age of Chaos? What Kind of Nonsense is That?
In a previous article, we touched on some ideas about how to achieve a calm life in today’s fast-paced world. Well, let’s “deliver on those promises” now.
It’s almost certain that everyone can figure this out on their own. Let’s try an experiment. Take this quiz and see where it leads us:
Why are we always in a rush in life? (We want to be seen as hardworking, reliable, and high-performing at work because we have bills to pay, we need to earn money to go on vacation, the kids need new something-whatever, we want to fit into a society with a higher standard of living, we want to achieve success, etc.)
What happens to our health if we take any (or several) of the above answers too seriously? Or, put differently—how does long-term or intense stress (chaos) affect a person’s health? Most likely, it’s not good.
What happens to the answers/goals from the first question if our health deteriorates? They take a backseat. They might not even be achieved. And even if they are, can we truly enjoy them with compromised health?
Now, the final question: What would you do with your time or workload if your living costs (mortgage, rent, utilities...) and food expenses dropped significantly?
It’s clear that not everyone dreams of a hammock strung between two trees in their garden or gardening as a way to cut down on food costs.
But we believe many would resonate with the ideas of a “minimalist lifestyle,” like these (borrowed from Becoming Minimalist):
Society whispers to us that luxury is expensive cars, designer clothes, big houses, and a lavish lifestyle. But life teaches us that true luxury is slow mornings, free decision-making, good sleep, a peaceful mind, quiet days, and the people we love and who love us back. These things, however, aren’t just handed to us. They’re the result of intentional and fulfilling living.
Okay, let’s move away from gardening and idealistic thoughts and return to Slovak reality. Slovakia is a country where the largest portion of income from the minimum wage goes toward housing—49% for rent and 30% for electricity, gas, and water. According to the weekly Trend, we’re among the countries with the “highest burden” among those monitored. In light of this, the opening quiz feels almost trivial.
So, how do we break free from this? Another question. Sorry.
Imagine a living situation that doesn’t create regular costs. Even if it required some compromises in certain areas, but provided everything a modern person considers a standard part of a household, would you go for it?
This is exactly why FiiDU.org was created—to make this possible.
