Recently Ive spent some time sitting outside at a friends house on the edge of Canberra, looking out at over the valley. Eight years ago they purchased a lifestyle property that was pretty run down. They really wanted to have their own little piece of the country. Having only got married in their late 30s with little behind them financially when they meet it was all they could afford. Over the years they have worked really hard to
renovate the house and property, consuming many of their weekends. Now with all the major stuff behind them, a big mortgage still looming in front of them, in many respects they are living the dream life. Quiet country living, 10 acres, free roaming chickens and every meal has something hand grown in their garden.
They do have financial worries like most people. Although in many respects they have the dream, approaching their 50s they have still have a pretty substantial mortgage to pay off. Has all the hard work been worth it.? Asking them you would get a resounding yes. Although in the same
breath they also might say that if they knew ahead of time how much work was involved it might have been a no!
Ive just finished reading Kevin Milnes book The Life and Times of a Brown Paper Bag. Its a biography about his life and his 27 years on Fair Go. He seems to me an incredibly down to earth person who values a combination of hard work and fun, who wants to do things that he finds
valuable, and above all else his family is the center of his world. When he was first married he bought a couch for $25. He figured he didn’t want to spend his time yelling at his kids to stop jumping on the couch so he bought one that he didn’t care if they jumped all over. This says to me that he cares more about the experiences of his family than he does having a new quality couch that says to others he is doing well financially.
There is no ideal answer to “Is it worth it?” Each person has to find the answer within themselves as to what something is worth to them. I think the key is to ask yourself the questions about what you really want and what is important to you. Too many people bumble through life and end up having so many regrets. Granted really hard work can be stressful and tiring but often the rewards on the other side are well worth all the
effort. Have you asked yourself lately what is really important to you?
