DISCIPLINE MONTH: DAY 13: “Sometimes you’ve got to do things you dislike to get a life you’ll love to have. Sometimes you have to sacrifice joy and comfort in the present to get greater joy and comfort in the future.” ― Jeanette Coron
I don’t think I ever “sacrificed” anything. I just know that I was taught early on about the principle of doing first things first.
What that sometimes meant was I had to pay bills instead of going on a trip I wanted to take. I was told that the money I earned had already been committed to others, so the money was theirs, not mine. I was taught that what I needed to do was understand how to pay my bills and budget responsibly so that I could be responsible to myself and others.
Sometimes this was all I could do. A few years ago, the world shifted dramatically for me, and I had to live very close to the vest. That was a long-term situation and I hated it. But I did okay. I did not steal from others, nor did I NOT pay my bills. I just had little left to play with, and it was a tough time like that.
BUT, I was rich in love and experiences and got okay with it all.
When it shifted, I was able to do things I had not done for a while. I did that for a bit, then shifted my lifestyle somewhat and here we are! It is not extravagant or fancy, but it is lovely, and I am living as I can today. If that should change again, I am okay with that, too. I have learned it doesn’t really matter.
I had to work two or three jobs at times to live how I wanted to. I learned that I am not willing to take all of my life time to get money. So, I have learned to live as I can without it. That helped a lot when the lean times were with me.
I never really disliked any of these situations. There was certainly fear around having enough, but I got over that as well. I don’t think I ever sacrificed joy or comfort to get it later on.
That does not completely resonate with me. I have just learned to say “later” when something comes along that I think I want, and I don’t have the means or the time or whatever to do it or get it. I am good today with delayed gratification. It doesn’t matter. The things I want are already here…I have love and peace, sobriety and joy, great health and fresh air, trees and flowers, the ocean and a home and a car. They are lovely, and I am blessed. That is way more than I could ever have asked from this thing. It is such a lovely life to live. And I could have missed this all!
Dolphin Hug 