Over the weekend I was lucky enough to spend some time in the city of Melbourne. My husband had a business dinner and we stayed in a 5 star Hotel. Whilst hubby was at dinner I enjoyed some city shopping, my favourite was the incredibly large city bookstore where I poured over some beautiful books, I could have stayed there all night! I then headed back to my hotel room and enjoyed all it had to offer. I was warm and comfortable in the extra large bed with the super soft pillows and my lush robe. My hubby messaged me at one point saying that the dinner paid for by the company had cost $3000 and then the company was paying for them to go out and have drinks as well!
I won’t deny it was lovely to have a beautiful night of exploring Melbourne and being spoiled, but it has also left me feeling like it is all a little ridiculous. For hubby and I this isn’t our ‘regular life‘. We live a very comfortable life, but we barely ever go out for dinner or frequent 5 star hotels, this was a treat and it was lovely. But what struck me as we walked around the city was how many homeless people are sleeping on those streets! Whilst we slept the night away in luxury, they slept with one eye open on a hard floor. Whilst my husband and his colleagues enjoyed an over priced dinner and drinks that same company paying for that dinner are laying off (firing) employees all over the world so that can make more money! My husband’s office is like a ghost town of empty desks and chairs. He works mostly from home as it is depressing to go in and remember the friends he used to spend lunch times walking with are now out of a job.
I guess today I am just thinking that as nice as our night away was, (and don’t get me wrong I think couples need this time), I feel like life is really all about the simple things. Shouldn’t we be focused on the little moments and being grateful for what we have? Shouldn’t we be caring for and nurturing those in our community? Shouldn’t we be enjoying our homes and what we already own, rather than being consumed by what advertisers and large companies tell us ‘we need‘?
Walking through the beautiful stores and eating at a delicious cafe was wonderful, I really enjoyed it. I also really enjoyed the couple time we had (and time together is important for a strong relationship). But seeing dresses and suits priced the same amount as a small car is just crazy! If you can afford that then I guess that is fine, but what worries me is that people go into huge debts trying to afford things that advertisers tell us will make us popular! Buying something expensive might give us an instant high, it can feel great! And when we wear it out we feel beautiful. But then we can’t wear it again because ‘people‘ have seen us in it! Was it really worth the credit card debt in the first place?
I have found myself at a point where these are my thoughts. I am questioning what I buy, what I spend my money on. As you know our new home has just been built and is ready for us to move in to as soon as the council issue the occupancy certificate. I guess that and my recent night in the city has really got me reflecting on what matters the most to me and what sort of life I want to be living. So today I am just speaking my mind (or writing it), just processing my thoughts. Wondering what I want out of life. Some things I will continue to ponder, but some other things I already know.
I know I want to live simpler, and simpler doesn’t mean easy, it means I want to get back to nature more, I want to waste less money on materialistic items that don’t enrich my life. I am still figuring it all out, but that is what life is all about. Life is a journey, a classroom where if we choose to open our hearts and minds we can always keep learning.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this, and would love any advice on living a simpler life.
“if we choose to open our hearts & minds we have so many wonderful things to learn”
Thanks for joining me, love Mackenzie xx
Follow me on Instagram @macglanville
You may also enjoy the following articles:
Rejection and how to deal with it.
22 comments
This is so true and beautifully written; it’s what we have in our hearts that is invaluable xx #candidcuddles
oh thank you so much for your lovely comment xx
Nothing like a night away on the business account 🙂 I want a simpler life, have land but currently no permission to build, just want a simple building log fire and solar panels for nice cheap worry free older years #bigpinklink
oh that sounds so perfect!!
A really lovely post that has got me reflecting. I think what you say is very true. Where we live on Jersey can be very money orientated and as a result it can feel a very superficial place to live on. It can also be hard not to get swallowed up by that mentality of spending money or having the latest handbag will make you feel good about yourself. We all need to be focusing on our families and communites more, like you say #bigpinklink
it is so easy to get caught up, I have been there too, but I really feel I am moving away from it and feeling better for it xx
I’ve never been one for designer anything personally and I don’t think I’m very materialistic. I just want to see more of the world and I think that’s where my money goes – on literally going out anywhere and everywhere. I just don’t really see what all the fuss is about when it comes to flashy appearances. I mean, what do you really have to show for it? Our money goes on experiences and creating memories which I would rather have than a £500 handbag. I get what you are saying though and some people get really caught up in it all! #bigpinklink
I agree life experiences and travel really enriches our lives the way a handbag never could.
I think you’re so right but there seems to be such peer pressure to have all the latest of everything that people are losing sight of reality and whilst the treat of the business trip was appreciated I do understand … it really makes you reflect and feel a little uncomfortable. I find excessive spending of money vulgar too particularly when others have so little. A really wonderful reflective post that will hopefully stop most to contemplate – beautifully written #bigpinklink
thank you I really appreciate your thoughts on this!
What a lovely, thought-provoking piece. I am starting to realise that it’s the simple things that matter; no material item can ever be better than feeling love and giving loved. #bigpinklink
thanks so much, yes I agree xx
Another truly fabulous post!! I love having a luxury night away, before we had children, me and my husband would have a spa break every 8 weeks or so. It’s really hard to do now, with 2 small children, but we’ve managed it a couple of times, and I love the luxury of all the things you mentioned, a huge bed, soft pillows, and lovely robes! But now I’m not working, and we really have to think about budgeting, and taking into account people who have nothing, it’s becoming much less of a priority!! I love shopping in charity shops, and getting a buzz out of getting a designer item for the smallest fraction of the original price!! I also dream of being able to grow as much of my own fruit and veg as possible-but fitting that in right now is pretty hard! You are completely right to encourage prioritising what we really want and need in life! The small moments with our loved ones are the most important! Thanks so much for sharing with #bigpinklink.
I really relate to what you have commented here! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts it means a lot!
I completely agree. Life is all about the simple things. Some people think money and stuff makes you happy, advertisers try and tell us that too but really it’s the little things that are the most important. #BigPinkLink
This is so true. I’ve been pondering this myself as we don’t need all this stuff, we need less tangible things like friends and family 🙂
This is so lovely and so very true. With four children we have had to learn to be content with what we have, even if that means that we don’t have as much as others. We have actually discovered that some of the most amazing experiences of our lives haven’t cost a single thing, it’s a real eye opener. Thanks for sharing, #ABrandNewDay
A really reflective post. I think in parenting too, everyone is constantly trying to keep up with the joneses. I read on a blog not too long ago that the writer was feeling guilty because she hadn’t yet taken her baby on a foreign holiday. As if babies care about such things! It really is the little things that matter. #abrandnewday
It sort of seems unfair that there are people who live on the streets that seemingly have nothing. We are lucky to live the life we lead sometimes. We live quite frugaly by nature. We don’t buy materialistic things. We don’t own a TV for one, that is a massive help as we don’t get bombarded by adverts! We go out and enjoy life as a family. I like this post, it made me feel lucky. THanks for sharing it with #AbrandNewDay
What a beautiful post, Mackenzie. You make a lot of great points about life, society & business. I adore the quote from Lao Tse. He’s so wise! It does seem a wrong for companies to spend so much on certain employees while laying off others. We definitely should be grateful for what we have. #candidcuddles
I love how inspirational all your quotes are! Thanks for sharing another one for #candidcuddles – I’ll be back next week! x
beautifully written and so true. really resonated with me. I think I have become much better at being content with my lot since having my daughter. anything else that comes a long is a bonus
#abrandnewday
Comments are closed.