Whenever somebody tells you that you have to have something… or you personally feel that you have to have something… ask yourself this powerful question:
“What did they do 100 years ago?”
The reason this question is so powerful is because it forces you to think outside of modern conveniences and modern “necessities.”
It also forces you to challenge your assumptions about how life is lived — and how it should be lived.
Let me offer you a few examples.
Example #1: Vaccinations
Everybody assumes that all children should be vaccinated. But what did they do 100 years ago? And what were child mortality rates? And how did vaccines impact those mortality rates?
Example #2: Cars
Everybody assumes that a car is a necessity. But is it really? Can you get by with a bicycle or simply walking? What would life look like if you couldn’t have a car?
Example #3: Health Insurance
Everybody assumes that health insurance is a necessity… that you’d be crazy to go without it. But what would your life look like without health insurance? How would you get health care, and how would you change your lifestyle?
My point is that we all make assumptions. Some of them are right and some are wrong.
And we have to be willing to challenge our assumptions if we ever hope to discover the wrong ones.
So next time you’re faced with a decision that involves purchasing something, just take a moment and reflect: What did they do 100 years ago?
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The question could be reversed. What will we do in 10 years time? There may no affordable oil left (hence, cars become useless). Health care is collapsing due to it’s corruption on keeping people sick. And vaccinations are quickly becoming known for the fraud they are.
We don’t have a car. Don’t get vaccinated (my son has never receive one dose of those mercury loaded injections — and everybody comments how exceptionally healthy and smart he is).
We do have socialized health insurance in Canada. Most of it’s a fraud. Just a cycle of disease management to keep sucking money out of taxpayers pockets. Outside of accident and emergency care it’s not very impressive.
Just stumbled upon your blog… enjoyable to read and congrats on lowering your debt.
If you are young and pretty healthy, and if you buy your own health insurance (as opposed to getting it from work) then I would suggest getting a policy that covers major events. It’s unwise to go without coverage (just in case the worst happens) but if you go to the doctor once a year you probably don’t need an extensive policy.
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