Would I Ever Be That Brave?

Heroes of the Phoenix Rising by Vision One World

I wonder if I could just go and sell my condo tomorrow. Or my dream house that I just bought. My cars and my king-sized bed? I wonder how much courage it would take for me to empty out my entire house of everything, barring three sets of clean clothes, a pair of shoes, my toothbrush, and a soap.

But what is this absolute sense of fear that overcomes me at the very thought of letting go? When did these possessions stop being mere commodities and start to identify my entire existence? An existence for which I will be spending the next 30 years of my life in debt.

My work begins at 7 am every day, and I put in extra hours in the hope of bringing my house mortgage down from 25 years to 20. I’m hoping to retire five years sooner than I have to, so maybe in my old age, I can actually live in the house I am working so hard for today. Sure, my children would have grown, the elders in my family would have passed on. But the bills are going nowhere, so I better forget all else and work. 

Meet Kirk and Yvette Slack

“We lived just like everyone else, almost all of our lives. We worked continuously to be able to pay our bills continuously. We used to own and operate two hotels in Montana. I also ran a painting business with several employees.” 

Kirk and Yvette Slack were your typical middle-class North American couple — molded by societal norms to hustle, spend, and keep chasing “success.” Their lives mirrored everything we are told to aspire to: the perfect job, the perfect house, the perfect car. And they achieved it — running multiple hotels and businesses. On the outside, they had it all.

But something changed.

Redefining “Perfect”

The Slacks still live in a perfect house. Only now, the definition of “perfect” has changed.

“We have become a spoiled, stressed-out civilisation that knows all too well how to consume. But one thing I have learned for sure is that it does not take a big fancy house and a new car to make you happy.”

In May 2005, the Slacks sold their hotels and everything they owned. They bought a small piece of land and started building their new life — from scratch.

“I was forty-three years old and for the first time in my life, we were totally debt free. Not that we had a lot of money, but we had learned to live within our means. Life became a lot easier now: no rent, no car payments, no credit card bills. We were finally free.”

A Different Kind of Wealth

Step out the front door of the cabin Kirk and Yvette built, and you enter untouched wilderness.

“I head out every morning with a cup of coffee and my dog Missy to walk amongst the trees. You find an occasional arrowhead where the Native Americans walked a world before, and somehow you can’t help but feel like you are on the right trail.”

To many, their choice may seem extreme. But is it really?

The Price of Modern Living

Why is a lifetime of debt so normal? Why are our governments and banks not encouraging us to live within our means? According to The Canadian Payroll Association, half of Canadians live paycheck to paycheck, and a quarter of them can’t come up with even a month of emergency funds.

Among North American students, graduation often means stepping into $75,000–$100,000 of debt. Rising tuition and housing costs add pressure, delaying home ownership and saving goals. And yet, all of this — the burnout, the debt, the pressure — is considered normal.

Breaking the Chains

The Slacks made a radical choice: to live life on their own terms.

“It was hard work living off-grid. We were like homesteaders. Last year, for a while all we had was an outdoor shower and a generator for electricity. The days can be long in the mountains. The closest house is about a mile away and we are surrounded by woods. Not a sound, but the wind and the birds. I hooked up a television antenna and we get a couple of channels. It's kind of strange when you are out here in the nature. The world seems just fine until you turn on the news! This lifestyle of ours may not be for everyone, and some would laugh at such a life,” says Kirk.

“The hardest thing I guess is family and friends thinking that you might be a little strange because you don't agree with mainstream society. That is probably the toughest part about it.”

But despite all that, they stayed true to themselves.

The Simpler Path

“We have become a pretty soft society. I think it is good to rough it every now and then. Kind of brings you down to earth and puts things into perspective.”

There is hard work in both the lifestyles that the Slacks have led. But only one of them brought true satisfaction.

“We have never planned on being hermits and still do not consider ourselves to be. We have just learned how to lead a less complicated life. We try to live as simple of a life as possible. Take no more than you need, be considerate, and live an honest life. I know this may seem strange to some, but living within your means buys you freedom. It also lets you relax a little.”

Finding Purpose Beyond Possessions

Stepping away from the rat race gave Kirk space to reflect on his values — and act on them. After witnessing a case of a mother losing custody of her children due to testing positive for THC, and spending time interviewing hemp and marijuana activists, Kirk took another bold step.

He is now working on a documentary about hemp and medical marijuana, collecting stories and raising awareness.

“I just want everyone to know that you don't have to follow everyone else. That it is O.K. to do your own thing. You only live once and as long as you are not hurting anyone else you should live life the way you want to....”

A Quote That Says It All

“To be well adjusted to a sick society is not necessarily a sign of a healthy mind."

What If I Tried?

Would I ever be as courageous as the Slacks — to walk away from a dream that was never truly mine? Could I trade my stress, my belongings, and my social image for something simpler… and maybe, freer?

If only I could muster the courage to sell my condo. My dream house. My cars and my king-sized bed. And empty out my entire house, save for three sets of clean clothes, a pair of shoes, a toothbrush, and a soap. Oh — and my books.

The Real Courage

The Slacks did something quietly heroic. They chose to want less in a society that tells us to want more. That takes strength — far greater than most of us can imagine.

Inspired by their story? Share it, and maybe someone else will find the courage to ask the same question:

What if I could live… with less?