Midlife Millennial and Minimalism

I’ve done it the way “you’re supposed” to do it two times now. And both times I didn’t achieve happiness. Hi, I’m Bri Clark. I’m a forty something American. As I enter midlife with my husband, I’m doing it my own way. It starts with deconstructing all the bullshit that I’ve earlier been taught. For example, people often equate happiness and success with home ownership, the newest vehicles, clothes, and gadgets. They also strive to make the most money possible, accept every job, and charge top dollar. This often leads to sacrificing your quality, your values, and mental health. 

Yeah, I’m not interested in that anymore. 

Then what’s left?

That’s the fun part, figuring it out. We live minimal but intentional lifestyles.  That’s a very adverb driven statement. But it’s a fluid and adaptable concept of living. I’m on the verge of empty nesting. My daughters are college students and live their own lives while also living with us. Their domains are theirs to do as they see fit within reason. As they prepare for their launch, I have the chance to reimagine life with my husband. We can experience being a couple for the first time. 

The hubs and I go to the gym every day except weekends. We walk together nightly. We eat our meals at or from home. We grocery shop together. We camp together and go on trips. Basically, we are enjoying a courtship we missed out on from the beginning. We actually have been redefining family from our first date. 

In 2001, we got married. I was 18, and he was 25. He was a single father with two sons who were 6 and 3. Shortly after, we had two daughters, and we were a family of 6. As a successfully blended family, most people don’t realize my sons are not biologically mine. But being a ready-made family dismissed any opportunity to be a couple. Now we are getting the chance to do it as midlife married partners. And it’s fun as hell. 

But in the beginning, we did everything we were supposed to in order to level up from the generation before. And we lost it all only to rebuild again. 

In 2024 We achieved almost every goal we set out to achieve. We paid off $100,000 in debt. We donated, sold, or discarded 50% of our possessions in our home and in our businesses. We went on six camping trips. We dropped our outgoing expenses in our personal and business expenses by 40%. We built several homes and additions for clients. We did kitchen and bathroom renovations. We also focused on the health and lifestyle goals I mentioned above. 2024 was a wonderful year of transformation. We found a life of great joy with simple and intentional daily choices. We want to take that same energy going into 2025.

In 2025, we have specific goals. We want to pay off all our automobile debts. We also aim to have a larger savings of operating capital. We plan to build 4 houses and buy our own lot. We will build a house to sell, rent, or live in ourselves. Additionally, we aim to build 4 additions and continue to do kitchen, bath, and home renovations. We are maintaining our healthy lifestyles and building on them. We plan to go on 6 camp trips. We also want to take a trip to Europe. Additionally, we hope to visit our kids in Idaho and our grandson. We seek to become a certified woman-owned business with  Bri the Builder. We hope to launch Bri Excavations and make a profit. Additionally, we aim to become a professional blogger and write and publish a book.

Welcome to our journey through my eyes. We are ending 2024 and going into 2025. What are some things you accomplished in 2024?