Truism 35 : If you live simply, there is nothing to worry about
It was actually one of the few things, the few bits and bobs of advice and wisdom that your mother had chosen to pass on to you.
'If you live simply and don't spend time wondering and worrying about what life would be like above your station, you'll have a happy life.'
Your mother had lived by those words, in fact. She'd lived a simple, dull life with no excitement, no dreams and ambitions. She'd always been able to put food on the table, even if it was bland and uneventful. She'd always had a roof over her head and clothes for all the children, even if they weren't pretty and fancy. And she'd always been content with that – that simple, plain existence.
But you weren't your mother and no matter how hard you tried to heed her advice, you couldn't live the life she had, the life she'd wanted you to have.
And maybe she had been right – after all, though your life was filled with excitement and drama and barrels of fun, extraordinary times with your family, your lover, your friends, times you wouldn't have dreamed up even in your dizziest daydreams. But you also never ran out of things to worry about. Who'd come back beaten and broken next time? Would they come back at all? Would you end up beaten and broken and gone soon as well? There were endless worries, endless fears to plague you.
In the end though, there was no right way, no definite way that was best between your mother's way and yours. In the end, it was just another choice in life and you'd made it.
For better or worse, you'd made your choice.