I've been thinking about this little mantra ever since I saw it six or seven years ago. I don't think I've ever seen what I consider the secret to happiness so succinctly and completely captured.
I'm reprinting it here because I've been putting into action lately. And the author of this little guide happiness, Mark Pilgrim, removed his entire online presence back in 2011. When he originally published it in '09 or so he said he was on step 4. I assume he eventually made it to step 8.
- Stop buying stuff you don't need
- Pay off all your credit cards
- Get rid of all the stuff that doesn't fit in your house/apartment storage lockers, etc.
- Get rid of all the stuff that doesn't fit on the first floor of your house attic, garage, etc.
- Get rid of all the stuff that doesn't fit in one room of your house
- Get rid of all the stuff that doesn't fit in a suitcase
- Get rid of all the stuff that doesn't fit in a backpack
- Get rid of the backpack
I would say I am simultaneously on steps 2 and 4, with 5 and even 6 in sight.
For the record, while I understand wandering monks and the like, right now I personally have no desire to go beyond step 7. Still, if I learned nothing else from Tolstoy, I did learn that you never know when you'll end wandering.