“Chasing Pavements” is a song by British singer Adele, inspired by a personal incident with her boyfriend. After discovering he had cheated on her and punching him in the face at a bar, she walked down the street alone, wondering what she was chasing. She realized she was chasing something empty and unattainable.
The term “chasing pavements” means pursuing something fruitless, usually driven by blind hope. That’s the impression I get sometimes when I talk about pursuing financial independence. People don’t necessarily doubt I can achieve it; they just don’t get why I’m doing it, thinking it’s as if I am chasing something that doesn’t exist.
PERSONAL IDENTITY
When you ask people who they are, they often tell you what they are—a doctor, Scandinavian, soon-to-be-husband. This shows we recognize we are more than just a name. But can we truly understand our personal identity? This has been a topic of discussion since the beginning of Western philosophy. The short answer? It’s complicated.
Philosophy explores the persistence of personal identity over time. How do we know we’re the same person we were as children? Is it because we’re in the same body or perceive ourselves as having the same mind? And how do we prove we’re the same person, or even that we are a ‘person’? It’s complex. So, let’s break it down to something more relatable.
In sociology, personal identity is the concept you develop about yourself that evolves throughout your life. It includes features you identify with, like your gender or ethnicity, which you can’t control, and aspects based on your choices, like your job and relationships. It also involves your values, fears, hopes, and beliefs. You might even identify with attributes you don’t possess; if you’re convinced you’re Einstein, that belief influences your identity and actions, even if it’s not true.
KNOWING OURSELVES AND OUR LIMITATIONS
Understanding ourselves and our personal identity involves exploration and self-discovery. An often overlooked part of this journey is recognizing our limitations.
As children, we’re often told we’re perfect and can be anything we want. It’s an appealing message, encouraging us to dream big. But does it help us understand who we really are if we’re always focused on what we can become, believing our self-knowledge is tied to what we own or our achievements?
There are goals in life we may never reach. We are not all equally intelligent, strong, sensitive, beautiful, or healthy. However, we are all unique, each with our own qualities and limitations. Accepting our limitations is essential, even if it’s a message we don’t often hear.
MY LIMITATIONS
I have discovered my limitations over many years. There were things I wanted but couldn’t achieve because I wasn’t talented enough. In school, I wasn’t charming or handsome enough to attract the popular girls. At work, colleagues often climbed the corporate ladder faster than I did.
But now, I see knowing my limitations as a strength. I understand my strengths and weaknesses, and this insight helps me navigate challenges and uncertainties. I may never fully comprehend myself, but what I do know is invaluable.
You might wonder how this relates to seeking financial independence. For me, financial independence is not about what I have or own. It’s about time—the time to explore and understand who I am. People might think I’m a materialist aiming for a lavish lifestyle detached from responsibilities, but they’re wrong.
I won’t get everything I want. You’ll never see me flaunting wealth on a speedboat in the Mediterranean. When I achieve financial independence, I’ll simply have enough to quit my full-time job, and that’s enough for me. It’s irrelevant to my quest for self-discovery, a never-ending search for understanding.
I’m not chasing pavements.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
What do you think? Can you relate to what I’ve written? Or do you have a different perspective?
A BIT ABOUT MYSELF
My name is Marc. I document my journey to financial independence on my blog about early retirement planning. I recently turned 50—maybe not so young and a late starter in retirement planning. Still, I believe it’s realistic to retire before 60. The current retirement age where I live is 68, but I don’t plan to wait and hope it stays that way if I’m lucky enough to reach it.
