2009 was ripe with experiences for me, from beautiful, eye-opening ones to other not so beautiful or kind but very rich with lessons none the less. I've taken more risks, learned more about love and learned to say, excuse me, I need to take care of my own shit. I've been judged and criticised by those people I once considered close and have learned more deeply that happiness does not come from acceptance from others. Happiness comes from within. From what we know so far, humans only have one opportunity to live and we might as well be brazenly ourselves in the process.
Since the beginning of 2010, I've been on a job hunt. I'm sad to admit this, but while I was in college I really didn't expect this kind of difficulty with looking for a job. There was some misguided assurance I felt for snagging a dream job after working for a degree. I finally have a temp position lined up this week after signing up with multiple agencies and prowling sites like craigslist and yahoo hot jobs. I've even walked the local streets, not as the prostitute I was at times mistaken for while in some parts of SE Asia, but on the job hunt.
A degree by no means entitles anyone to work.
I've now come to appreciate a deeper value for every penny earnt and a even more so for every penny spent. "Cheapness" used to be a stigma but that was the entirely wrong concept. Thrifty was misunderstood. Now, getting a vintage piece gives you street cred. I remember cringing when my grandmother used to take me thrift store shopping.
Yesterday, I spent the morning at a swap meet where I was selling excess stuff for a fraction of what I had paid for before. Having less junk and more things of value is a misunderstood virtue, at least in my humble opinion. Even yesterday, what was most popular among my wares were the cheap and nasty. I felt like a "gypsy selling my wares" but only rarely did I get people purchasing my best deals.
I was once heavily affected by the materialistic side of living in the United States until I came to place different priorities on how I use my cash. Welcome to growing up and responsible spending. Assets over liabilities.
I'm seriously re-reading the four hour work week this week. This was the first place I read ideas like similar to the ones I had been playing and learned about "lifestyle design." I've been inspired and it's now time to apply the knowledge. This is what I'm working on now. What kind of things differentiate the standard, normal mindset to those of venture capiltalist, successful entrepreneurs etc...I don't think it's genetic.
What a fortunate day when I picked up an interesting title at costco. The author is coming out with a Becoming Superhuman book that I'm really excited to read.
On my missing birthday post, It's coming but I think the biggest lesson for me this year will be to digest all that I've learned so far, apply the knowledge and enjoy the process.
