05:38… "the stress-free lifestyle" has been my baseline for the longest time. In the hospital, I had a good number of nurses say how surprised they were at how old I actually was. Who wants stress anyway?
Being a single man, it allows me a lot of freedom. The cost of being single is far less than otherwise. An efficient life is a stress-free life, which has likely been my mantra for the longest time and thinking about that now, I seem to remember that.
I remember way back when I was getting started in life, there was the issue of paying taxes. When I had to pay income tax after making my first filing, I wasn't terribly happy with that situation. Then I remember Randy G., an old friend of my uncle Dale, he showed me a line on the income tax form, back when I started at Aetna, where I could agree to have a certain amount taken off each cheque and then I would be guaranteed to get some money back when I filled my taxes. I would never see that money, so I wouldn't miss it, and I had always put down $40 in that line.
I did that for every job I had in Canada and if I was to get money back, I felt that I didn't have to worry about my taxes and I was right. Of course, Randy didn't recommend that course of action, it was something that I had come up with. For an extra $40 a cheque, I didn't have to worry or stress. The government didn't come knocking to give me money.
I would also overpay my bills, eliminating the stresses of owing money, because I am underpaying. If I could afford it, why not? It might help one day, if I was struggling for money.
I was fortunate to be a part of the white collar workforce for so long too. It wasn't taxing physically and the mental stresses could be managed. I didn't need to be overly successful, that line of work helped me to live comfortably and efficiently. I had what I needed and I didn't want anymore than that.
I'm thinking about becoming a minimalist. In some ways, I already am, but if I can be more efficient with it, why am I not doing that right now? It's certainly going to be an idea moving forward, but it will face some difficulties, as people seem to enjoy giving me stuff. I don't need decorations, as nice as some of them may be.
And then Christmas! Besides being the religious holiday, which as you may have gathered, I could do without, the pseudo-commercial holiday is also a sore spot. It's a designer stress-filled holiday about gift giving and receiving. I can safely say that I don't need it, I can be nice to everyone all the time, I don't need to feel extra special about it. If I need anything, I'll just go get it.
There's some early morning thoughts, as I lie here in bed.
06:28… it's time to get up and get going!
