Being content

It’s nearly been a decade since I had my car (woohoo, go, Gloria!). I am aware that my family mean well. However, there has been a strong emphasis on getting a new car “Your car is soo old!!” (Black Honda Jazz 2007, not that I am counting). My response, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. It has taken me some time to reach this point, but I have learned over the years the value I get of taking care of my things and how they last me a long time and still look new. In case you haven’t seen my car, it has a bit of personality to it. Step inside, and you will be welcome by some elements of nature, a watercolour art picture, a small fake tree and fake grass at the back, with a lingering scent of a fresh jasmine diffuser, whilst still looking clean and all put together. Creating this type of atmosphere is one of the simple tangle things I do to feels relaxed while driving and boosts my mood. It got me thinking that I don’t need to buy something new if I use what is operating completely fine. Why go into debt, be on a payment plan and even spend money to save for other things.

Perhaps I have been fortunate to have a fantastic mechanic who I trust (go get yourselves a good mechanic and KEEP them!); therefore, I always get the car service twice a year with no significant concerns. (Even my mechanic can testify) how I take care of my things. Or perhaps it could be that I am not really into cars and just see it as a form of transportation since I live in a semi-rural area .

I have cultivated a mindset that slowly shifts away from consumerism, always wanting something new and shiny. We’re being bombarded with social Media, Ads, haul YouTube videos items that you must own, and then what? The fleeting feeling just lasts for a while, and then I am back in this loop cycle of feeling empty.). Ever since I have applied some minimalism principles, it has been freeing to have the things I enjoy and only need. This is where it gets controversial. What minimalism means to each person will be different, and we need to acknowledge and be ok with the differences. For me, I wanted to prioritize quality over quantity with my clothing that I enjoy wearing, using up food items before purchasing duplicates. Also, owning less meant that I didn’t need to clean a lot since having clean environments a massive value for me. I don’t speed as much time and can use this on other hobbies and family and friends.

This was something that I had to learn as in the past, I was low key judgmental with how much stuff others people. I understood that people have the right to own as much or as little as they like. For some, holding many things, especially collectables, bring them joy and may have sentimental value. After hearing this from others, I apologized for making the decision to be more open and accepting how others view minimalism principles. The moral of the story, don’t be too quick to judge others without listening to their perspective.

So unless the car is reached the endpoint of its life, I don’t see a reason to get a new car and am more than happy with what I have already. “Your car is so old”, “hmm that’s right. However, it has aged gracefully and is working perfectly fine, thanks”. I am grateful to own a vehicle that has lasted me a long time, and that hasn’t given me too much trouble with the mechanics.