It’s funny how inspiration hits.  I was playing a silly game with my parents today online – the wonders of the internet allow us to play the same game even though we live on opposite coasts.  It’s called Farm Town – and while the game isn’t the point of my post – it is the reason FOR the post.

In Farm Town you can have your own little virtual farm.   You can take several different strategies in moving up in levels to achieve a profitable farming operation.  Some choose to utilize every square inch of their farm land {like my son John} for crops.  This way the money and experience points come rolling in.  While others {like me} chose to work on their design skills and create an aesthetically pleasing farm.  We  concentrate on placement of buildings and trees, utilize the flowers, and then create pretty pastures for our crops to grow in.  The FOR PROFIT farmer plants the crop that will give them the highest NET profit.   The FOR PRETTY farmer will plant crops in a decorative fashion – grouping according to plant style, color, harvest schedule.

My dad said to me today – “follow the money”.   I replied – “I opt for pretty.”

It was at that second I realized how I’ve led my life this way.  During my Life Coaching class I learned one of my core values – my core beliefs – was beauty.  It lends itself to my creative side where I try to make things look good.  Last night as I was leaving work the PT-Key holder {aka sort of like a manager without the pay} said that I had a good idea for a display.  I explained to her it’s one of the things I love most about retail – the merchandising aspect.  When putting out the new clothes I wanted the display to look attractive.  I opted for pretty.

The one big difference I have with many others … well … I don’t have this need to follow the money.  I build up my savings slowly – making sure there’s just enough.  I like to purchase the pieces of flare that make life enjoyable NOW rather than waiting for that rainy day to come.    And while I know that my house might be a little big for me .. I’m enjoying every second of making it in to MY HOME.  It’s not just a house … an investment.  It’s a little slice of heaven for me.  And I enjoy making it pretty.

If there’s one lesson in life that I could teach my son, nieces and nephews is that it’s OK for us to be different.  You can follow the money if thats what you want to do – building your fortune as fast as you can.    Or you can chose to acquire your wealth in other measures – and opt for the pretty instead.