I can't believe that I used to worry about money.
Or rather, I can believe it; but it seems like someone else did, and did a lifetime ago. I can't relate anymore. It's as if I live in a different world now.
I credit practice and habituation. I'm writing this while enjoying a glass of champagne, for goodness sake. (Real champagne, from that province in France.)
I had to practice spending money and see that I won't die if I do. So that's what I did. I spent money. I moved to a penthouse. I wear Ralph Lauren and Barbour. And champagne is always my beverage of choice.
(Although to be fair, Ralph Lauren and Barbour aren't luxury to everyone. But they are, or rather were, to me. Until they became the new normal.)
I buy Lego sets on the spur of the moment.
I bought a winter jacket that cost 600 bucks. (Again, perhaps not a lot of money to everyone, but it was to me.)
Simultaneously, while spending that money, my investments have appreciated. It's as if the more I relax and the less I worry, the more money I have.
I mean, I've only realized in the past few years that not everyone has to work - and that a life without work not only exists in the world, but could also be possible for me.
And I don't mean life without work in the FIRE movement style, where you work for 20 years while saving every penny only to scrape by another 30 while not enjoying life at all. I mean a good, fulfilling, satisfying, luxurious life.
The life of a trophy wife, one could say. Although I do have a company of my own and have plans to start new ones, that's how I sometimes feel. I don't need to work. I could just do whatever I wanted.
This might be a good time to disclaim that I'm not trying to flaunt or show off or anything. While I am an arrogant snob, I never mean to imply that my life is better than anyone else's, or that I've made better choices than everyone else. My life is good for me and I've made good choices for me. People are different.
But just a note for my future self: at this moment in time, I'm ridiculously happy. My life is full and satisfying. I love everything. The world is full of possibilities.
In retrospect, I should call this progress.
