Redefining Luxury

Redefining Luxury

Recently it’s occurred to me that there is quite a bit of disagreement when it comes to the term luxury. I used to believe in the old definition. You know it when you see it. Now, however, I realize that it is not so simple. One of the superpowers of financial independence is redefining luxury. The ability to find joy and a feeling of excessiveness outside the monetary realm is truly something that sets us apart.

Most of the people who read this blog are not looking for five star accommodations (at least not at full price). They don’t have champagne wishes and caviar dreams.

We are looking for a whole different type of luxury.

Time Luxury

The main point of financial independence is to control time. Although time is not a commodity, we do have some modicum of control over how we spend it. Most are happy to slave away day after day to be able to afford the traditional luxuries.

The big house and the fast car cost money.

The process of redefining luxury, however, allows us to let go of such outdated dreams. In the historic battle between time and money, we choose time. Or, in a sense, we choose both, and ditch the idea of over spending.

What does this buy us? An excess of time. The ability to approach each day on our terms. We can let go of the time stress and sleep more. Read more. Connect with our friends and nature.

Whatever it is that gets our hearts racing. It is an uncommon pleasure to have the time to pursue it.

Self Direction

The ability to self direct our activities on a daily basis is a luxury that many in the developed world no longer have ownership of. How many times does the average person get up and got to work because they have to? Not because they want to?

More important than a gourmet meal. More pleasing than the neswest and greatest smart phone. Being the captain of our ship brings lasting and enduring contentment that no material wealth will ever bring. The hedonic treadmill is alive and well. Redefining luxury means realizing that obtaining things will only feed the lust for more things.

Failure

Failure is a luxury. It is the ability to not succeed, and not have it crush you into submission. When we are stuck under the weight of consumer debt or pushing ourselves to keep up with the Joneses, there is no room to fail. So we don’t take changes. We don’t explore new things or get out of our comfort zone. There is just too much to risk.

Redefining luxury means not only opening ourselves up to failure, but embracing it. If we haven’t failed recently, then maybe we haven’t tried enough new stuff.

The point is to keep falling until we find not only a way to stand up, but also a way to run.

Financial independence is the knee pads.

Final Thoughts

I no longer consider the traditional dream of luxury relevant. Sure it’s fun to splurge once in awhile. But expensive trips, gadgets, and even experiences eventually get old.

Redefining luxury means reaching for the more ephemeral joys of life. For me, time, self direction, and the freedom to fail are too precious to pass up. Too fundamental to trade them for material wealth.

And an added bonus.

They never get boring.