What is more difficult: getting someone to accept something different from what their culture has instilled in them, or keeping quiet to avoid conflict? Perhaps it depends on one's temperament. But when it comes to explaining the reasons why you have chosen to have a simpler lifestyle, sometimes there are little problems that, although salvageable, can cause some hard times.
In the area where I live, some choices and lifestyles are already shaped by culture, and anyone who seems to do something different is sure to attract attention. And I am not judging anyone, as I think that happens everywhere in the world with many examples. Imagine a hamburger bun in a triangular shape.
One of those things that people tend to long for and notice in others is the house they have. It is common to hear young people finishing their basic education being told that they should do this or that in order to get ‘a good job, a good house, a good car...’ and so on (we will come back to this later). So it seems that having a big and comfortable house is a goal that many have, and the saddest thing is for those who never had one but want to take out that frustration on their innocent children, and want them to have one.
If we are in this community it is because we don't necessarily long for a big house, we know that. But relatives and acquaintances still ask me when I will have my good house, since we still live in a small flat that is not ours. So that such comments do not create friction with those who insist unwisely, I usually take such comments as a joke, and respond with some humour to deflect the subject. However, every now and then there is someone who doesn't take it in the best way, but they soon get over it.
Also, I am one of those who want to plan the number of members my family will have. Some people think that you can only call a family a ‘family’ if it has three members, i.e. at least one son or daughter. But a marriage is a family! So, so far, my wife and I have decided to remain childless until now, and we are sticking to it.
The first years of marriage I think were the most difficult with this issue. Grandmothers and aunts were very insistent in asking us: ‘And when are you going to have children?’ Surely it was strange for them to see a young and vigorous couple not having children, since in many cases the children come before the marriage (and sometimes the marriage never comes at all). Politeness and kindness was necessary to make our case, but they usually didn't get it. But maybe that's a topic for another post.
I respect what everyone thinks about this issue and that they act accordingly. But for me, bringing a life into this world and guiding it is a big responsibility, and that's why we have this stance, which for me, is part of our simple lifestyle. While parenting is sure to bring many joys, it is also true that it brings with it some responsibilities that would have prevented us from enjoying some of the freedoms we still have.
And finally, those people who see needs where there are none. ‘You need your car, so that...’. Also: ‘You need your office so that...’ Even: ‘Your bicycle needs...’ Stop, please! Many of the things they say are not indispensable for life, I can live without them, and I don't even want them, things that even they don't have when they are older than me!
Perhaps personal dissatisfaction drives these people to easily detect what is apparently lacking in others. Fortunately, I don't have many such personal relationships any more, and that makes the matter simpler.
In short, I don't remember damaging any personal relationships by adopting my minimalist lifestyle, but I do remember a few conversations where I had to think carefully about what I was going to say before I spoke. Now that I think about it: could it be that the people I now frequent less often have been affected by my lifestyle and I don't know it? Deep mystery...
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FUENTES / SOURCES
Cover: Made with the free version of CANVAS
Images: Shot with my Canon EOS Rebel t3i camera / Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 phone and edited with GIMP
Banner: Made by me in GIMP with my own images and free resources from the site pfpmaker.com
Language: Post written in Spanish and then translated into English through DeepL
Hmm I don't know if it's a matter of them being affected by it. Rather it sounds to me like your values did not align with theirs, so there was some natural drfiting apart? It can be hard maintaining a close relationship with someone whose goals and values are quite far from your own...
Wow, a nice conclusion. Couldn't have been said better. Thanks for adding value to my publication. Regards @honeydue
This actually got me laughing and also make it clear when I read your thought on the prompt.
The triangular shaped burger isn't the weird one, it is the people who have believed that burgers must have a circle shape that are weird 😅
Keep to your own values, they have theirs and that's why they are like that to you.
I'm glad you liked that idea. The purpose was precisely to make the reader laugh by using an exaggeration. Thank you very much for stopping by. Regards @merit.ahama
Yeah, it was funny. You're welcome.
Hello @aaalviarez.
Please keep in mind that the #monomad tag is supposed to be used only with black and white photography published in the black and white community. Basically as the entry ticket for our daily challenge with the same name. It's a contest tag, and not a generic one like #blackandwhite #photography #life #nature, etc.
Thank you very much. Now I understand better. Regards
That part about having kids is a very touchy issue in my country, especially with grandparents and aunties. They keep not understanding that people have the choice to want to or not want to bring a life into this world for the best reasons known to them. It's a whole issue here.