15th September 2024
The poem “Dust if you must” offers a gentle reminder to live life fully rather than getting lost in the routine of daily chores.
It contrasts the act of dusting—a metaphor for mundane, repetitive tasks—with the richer experience’s life has to offer, like enjoying nature, pursuing creative activities, and spending time with loved ones.
To understand our priorities in life, we must answer this question, “What sacrifices are you willing to make to get the things you want?”
I recently came across a quote that made me think: “The real price of everything, what everything really costs to the man who wants to acquire it, is the toil and trouble of acquiring it.” ~Adam Smith, ‘The Wealth of Nations’
There is a price tag for anything you want to achieve in life.
Importantly, everything has a List Price (what it costs on the surface) and a Real Price (what you have to give up to get it).
There’s the List Price you see, and the Real Price you don’t.
Before you go after anything, make sure you’re willing to pay both.
What I’ve learned is that there are many things in life that look like a great deal based on the List Price, but a ripoff based on the Real Price.
Using the historical example of John D. Rockefeller, the List Price for his success was countless years of hard work and focus, but the Real Price also included loving relationships lost, physical and mental health deterioration from a nonstop schedule, and reputation damage from some of his business practices.
For me, thinking clearly about the Real Price of the things I want has helped create a balanced existence.
I spent most of my life thinking that I wanted to be extraordinarily rich or famous, but as I’ve matured, I’ve realized that the Real Price of those things is not one that I’m willing to pay (at least not for now).
It would almost certainly mean giving up my time with family & friends, my reading & writing, my ‘Me’ time and countless other such small things—and I’m just not willing to do that.
The Lesson I always advocate is that make sure you’re willing to pay the Real Price for the thing you’re after in life.
This Sunday, ask yourself what is truly important for you & have the wisdom & courage to build your life around the answer & stay blessed forever.