{"id":3471,"date":"2013-03-12T12:44:31","date_gmt":"2013-03-12T17:44:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/customwordpresssites.com\/mjb\/?p=3471"},"modified":"2026-02-26T13:51:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T19:51:39","slug":"downward-mobility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/customwordpresssites.com\/mjb\/2013\/03\/12\/downward-mobility\/","title":{"rendered":"Downward Mobility"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>
Photo credit: http:\/\/www.sxc.hu\/photo\/261735<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

by Guest Blogger Emily Dawson<\/p>\n

I am writing this in a laundromat. I used to have my own wash machine and\u00a0dryer, house and garage and lots and lots of counter space too–used to<\/em>. Basically, life happened. And I will say that while washing, drying and folding your intimates in the privacy of your own home\u00a0is a luxury, you\u00a0do<\/em> learn to adapt and perhaps even cherish downward mobility.<\/p>\n

Experiencing it is not exciting. There are very few honorable people who willingly choose this: to move their social status down a notch. Most of the time this happens against our will and it becomes a personal test of strength and surrender. Old habits and routines are broken as we hesitantly release our comfort and sometimes end up feeling unfortunate.<\/p>\n

It is, however, also a time of freedom. A time to release possession from our possessions. I don’t have a washing machine anymore, but I also don’t have any responsibility\u00a0if it\u00a0breaks.<\/p>\n

I do not own property and my living\u00a0space is drastically smaller, but I don’t need to shovel snow, mow the lawn, clean or organize much–if at all. And I don’t have that weird compulsion to compete with my neighbors over how successful I am anymore. Blech.<\/p>\n

What I get in return for this drastic change, this perception of “loss,” is more of\u00a0me<\/em>. I get more time to focus less on things I had and more on experiences I want to have; ideas I want to create; and\u00a0conversations I want to share. I end up giving more too–more time and even money to my community and\u00a0to those who need me. I’m finding my life much more enriching these days.<\/p>\n

But I won’t sugarcoat downward mobility. It’s rough, especially if unplanned. I miss the plans I used to have for my stuff (as ridiculous as that sounds, but watch any Home Depot commercial and you’ll know what I mean).\u00a0Yet now I can appreciate that even a mundane activity, like laundry, becomes an event: a time I can’t do anything but<\/em>\u00a0have for myself.<\/p>\n

You should\u00a0be so lucky.\u00a0
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Downward Mobility<\/a><\/blockquote>