It’s been a while since I reposted my initial opening post from February 6, 2008. This is the foundation for why I started writing this blog. So, here it is, with a few updates for new readers and previous readers alike.
This blog is about exactly what its title states - “Living Free.” Now, to make sure this concept is perfectly clear, I do not mean living FOR free nor should this entail working FOR free. I mean living and working freely under our own rules, terms and conditions for our individual lifestyles and workstyles. And, it is important to note that there are no rules, terms or conditions carved in stone that tell us how we should live or how we should work. The only rules are those that we each establish for ourselves in our own hearts and minds . . . unless, of course, we choose to adopt the rules, conditions and terms that others may want to impose on us.
My postings here are going to be based on MY feelings, opinions, concepts, wants and needs. What I say may or may not apply to you – or perhaps only parts of what I say may apply to you. So, do not, under any circumstances, consider anything I say here to be the gospel. What I say only pertains to my life. The operative word throughout this blog is “FREE!” I hope by posting my thoughts and feelings here that I might be able to instill a feeling of freedom in each person who lands on this blog and chooses to read it. Will it change your life? I hope so, but not to my benefit and credit – rather to your own benefit and credit.
This is beginning as a blog. I am planning a podcast to follow in the future. [Ed’s note: I’ve been gathering material, but have yet to begin the podcasts.] The podcasts will mainly introduce readers of the blog to various individuals who are living, what they consider, free lifestyles and have found a way to free themselves from the more traditional living and working models, so they can live and work on their own terms. The interviews will not necessarily – and probably most likely not – be with financially wealthy people. However, they will all be with people who live rich, fulfilling lives.
Money is not the only measure of success. You can't buy happiness with money, but it can make life easier as well as more convenient and comfortable. Everyone needs a certain amount of money to sustain whatever lifestyle they choose for themselves. The real issue, too often, is that we haven’t determined what really makes us happy and fulfilled. So, we tend to center ourselves around the job, profession or business and then generating the largest amount of money we can. People will spend 30, 40 and maybe 50 or more years of life slaving at some job that, statistically, is unfulfilling to more then 70% of the workforce. Our most valuable – actually priceless – commodity, Time, is slipping by virtually unnoticed until . . . we reach or pass middle age and wonder where all the time of our lives went. At some point during our lives we all seem to ask the question, “Where did the years go?” It's actually obvious – the time went to making money, too often, trying to keep up with the Joneses and/or buying into the latest, greatest trends, fads, gadgets, doodads, etc. One day, we’ll realize all of this has just accumulated as so much “stuff” and we are now in the “stuff” warehousing business. We are now storing outdated, unused (possibly under used or never used) things that cost us money to warehouse and insure and requires space that we wouldn't need for any other reason other then to store the stuff.
So, living and working free means determining, in your own mind and heart, what is really important to you and creating a lifestyle that reflects what really fulfills you and sets you free to enjoy the time of your life. It means finding a way to produce that you find fulfilling and you can enjoy and even be passionate about. Sure, you may not earn a six-figure income – or maybe not even a high five figure income – but how much was the second, minute, hour and day worth that just went by. Can you borrow, rent, buy, steal or replace in any other way another second of time . . . or a minute, hour or day? Time is my most valuable – and priceless commodity. Personally, I am no longer willing to sacrifice my priceless time to do anything that I don't want to do, don't like doing or, in general, just find to be a waste of my time. I will only “trade” my time for money when what I'm doing with that time is fulfilling, satisfying and enjoyable – in my personal opinion . . . and no one else's opinion really matters since it's my life and my time.
That's what this blog is all about. I'll expose you to ideas, concepts, opportunities, lifestyles, workstyles, people, places and so on. I very much invite and want your comments. Your comments are important to me and to other readers, but they also are important to you, personally. If you have something you'd like me to post as part of this blog – submit it to me at ed.helvey@gmail.com I'll review it and let you know if it fits. Also, I'll probably go on a rant once in a while when something really gets to me, so be prepared. There are a lot of injustices, incompetence, inconsiderateness, etc. in this world. But, whoever said this world or life was fair, anyway. I ask that you read and abide by my simple rules for commenting. I want this to be an open forum of thought and ideas, but I will not allow anything inflammatory or being unkind, abusive or negatively critical of me or anyone else who comments or posts on this blog. I will personally moderate all comments and, accordingly, only when necessary, act as judge and jury.
In closing this first, introductory post, I want to give credit to a book and its author as part of my inspiration for this blog. The book is Working Free: Practical Alternatives to the 9 to 5 Job by John Applegath. The book was published in 1982. I read it in 1986 or 1987 and it took me 20 years to, finally, locate the author. I spent three terrific days with John in Durham, NH and found him to be delightful, inspired and enlightening. He and several friends he introduced me to while I was there, basically live and work free. I have some recorded interviews with each of them and they will appear in podcasts in the future. Since part of what I have done over my lifetime has been publishing books – John has regained his rights from the original publisher and I'm going to consider republishing his book in some form in the future.
Another person you'll hear from and whose book also was part of my inspiration is Barbara Winter, whose book, Making a Living Without a Job: Winning Ways for Creating Work that You Love, is still, I believe, in print. Barbara was easier to track down and I have been in contact with her by e-mail and phone. [Ed’s note: and since this post was originally written and posted, I have met Barbara at a workshop in Sedona, AZ.] And there are a lot more folks just like these that I'll introduce you to.
Thanks for reading this introductory post. If you feel this blog is going to be of interest to you, then I urge you to “follow” it and subscribe. [Ed’s note: I have just started a Yahoo Group called “Living Free and Happy” as a place for people like you and me to network, ask questions, find answers and share life experiences that maybe help someone else seeking to Live Free. You can join the group by clicking on the purple Yahoo Groups button to the right and below the Followers.] And, when the podcasts begin, I hope you'll find them interesting, too, and will subscribe to them as well. My hope is that this blog will go viral at some point. We used to call it “word of mouth” in my younger days. If you know others who may benefit from the kind of information and insight that is the foundation for this blog, may I humbly request that you to pass this on to your family, friends and colleagues. Invite them to read it and subscribe if it makes sense to them, too. I'll repeat this post from time to time so new readers will understand what the foundation of this blog is. So, if you see it appear again – it's really not deja vu all over again – it really is a repeat for the benefit of new readers.
[Ed’s note: Here is some updated information about my “living free” lifestyle since I wrote the original post in February 2008.]
On November 1, 2008 I made the big leap of faith. I spent several months prior to that day preparing and downsizing. The last month or two were the most stressful. Clearing out the house and outbuilding on the 49-acre ranch I was living on and running my businesses from was no easy chore. Nearly everything had to go. A lifetime of “stuff” some dating back 50 years. I left the ranch on November 1st and became, for the first time in over 40 years of adult life, happily homeless and without the responsibility of maintaining a physical home and business property, address and phone number. I cut my monthly overhead by approximately 80% overnight.
I went through several months of challenging adjustments to a totally new and, sometimes, alien lifestyle. I experienced a period of depression that manifested itself through sleep deprivation. My doctor kept tabs on me and prescribed a very small dose of something to take the edge off the transition. It’s really amazing how your body and mind reacts to eliminating massive amounts of responsibility, obligations and all the accompanying stress. Perhaps it was a former grieving as I left behind an old life that seemed like it was dying. Within six months of leaving the ranch I was feeling better then I can ever recall feeling. I was sleeping regularly, restfully, with terrific dreams and had no further need for the prescription med after about a month or so. I’ve never been freer or happier in my life. I don’t miss anything I gave up or eliminated during the downsizing process. I have never looked back and the future is unbelievably bright. I, honestly, don’t know why I waited so long to make this lifestyle change. But, I do know one thing for sure. I don’t ever want to go back!
Living Free is a natural right of all human beings. Everything about our lives is a series of choices we each make – individually. If you choose to stay where you are. That’s fine, it’s your life and you can do anything you want with it. If you choose to explore living as free as possible for yourself – and you define freedom for yourself and make the determination to move towards living free – that’s fine. I don’t know any people who go back to their old lives once they’ve experienced and realize how rich and fulfilling living free is.
Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog. I hope you’ll return regularly. I wish you the life you’ve dreamed of. It’s only a choice away.
Enthusiastically,
Ed Helvey
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