Utility.
What does it mean?
On a basic level, it means usefulness. It means everything having its place, with nothing going to waste.
On a personal level, it means my life philosophy.
You see, I’m utilitarian to a fault. The idea of wasting money on resources I don’t need bothers me. And the thought of wasting the day away doing nothing makes me nauseous.
The way I see it, resources are way too strained for me to go off-script with a day or an item. Everything must have its purpose and nothing should be left to neglect.
This also means I must maintain internal discipline at all times. I can’t shut off my brain for a day or mindlessly chase a thrill now and then. My mind is always working, my joy always tempered by my sense of responsibility.
This can drive those in my inner circle crazy.
“Live a little,” they say.
But I’ve lived a lot. Long enough to know that there are no shortcuts.
All of our actions balance out in the end. Better to be cognizant of this construct throughout than to live in a boom or bust cycle.
Yes, as great as it might be to live carefree, we have many responsibilities to manage. Our possessions, our bank account and our well-being are just a few. Forgetting about these for a while means we’ll need to work extra hard to tend to them later.
I’d rather do the hard work before I commit. To stay agile and think lean.
This keeps me on task and on purpose. Which helps me live a more fulfilling life. One that’s worth the grind.
So, how do I do it? Well I start by considering the use case. Then I consider the cost.
If I can’t find a good, regular use for what I’m considering, it’s not worth getting. It will simply waste away as clutter, and my hard-earned dollars will be better spent elsewhere.
And if something is prohibitively expensive, I don’t pursue it. Utility is about living within one’s means, and budgets do matter.
Of course, there are exceptions to these rules. Gifts and family heirlooms are not always utilitarian, but they are valuable. And sometimes I feel a financial splurge is necessary, even if it stretches beyond my means.
But I balance out these moments of excess with frugality. After all, the ultimate goal is utility. And utility requires a return to my purpose-driven normal.
Now, I realize my reality is a bit extreme. Not everyone has my laser focus when encountering each decision. Many don’t want to have it.
That’s understandable.
But we would all benefit by looking at the big picture now and then.
We would all benefit by considering our footprint. Of how we use what we obtain and what value that brings us.
We would all benefit by thinking of our purpose. Of how our lives fit into our grander plans.
And we would all benefit by recognizing that the little things can make a big difference.
We are all blessed to walk this earth.
Let’s live each day with purpose. And act with utility.