I've had a slow month of posting and I did not submit any articles to carnivals this week. However, I have been reading through the fabulous posts at Carnival of Money Stories at Collecting My Cash and the Festival of Frugality at No Credit Needed. I think Carnivals are a great way to find new blogs and new perspectives.
I was struck by a number of articles that reminded me of the power of choice. The value I put on choice and individual empowerment and responsibility runs through most of my posts (if it doesn't then I need to become a better writer because I'm certainly thinking about choice whenever I'm writing about money)
Cash Money Life describes an instance where he had to make the choice between what is is right and what is easy.
Small Cents tells us about a friend who is having trouble making the choice to get out of her financial mess in The Grass is Browner on the Other Side of The Fence.
The Wastrel Show has a detailed article about how she and her family set priorities and now live debt free.
Smart Easy Money argues that you don't have to judge someone for the choices they make. Those choices may not work for you but they may be perfectly appropriate for them. Read her thoughts on why she doesn't think living a frugal life means being anti-luxury in Consumerism vs Frugality.
And finally, Quest for Four Pillars gives us an example of how luxurious our lives can actually feel if we choose to take on a different perspective in Living the Good Life as a Custodian.
There are many many worthy articles at these carnivals so be sure to check them out!
Showing posts with label Choices. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Choices. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Why Do People Hate the Word 'Budget'?
I've been trying to figure this out. The word "budget" seems to be one of those heavy words, full of negative connotations for many many people. Why is that? It's just a word. It doesn't have any more power than you give it.
What's So Bad About a Budget?
Where does this strong reaction to the word budget come from? Is it because of early life experiences and imprinting from parents who were stressed out about money? Does it make you think of disappointment, deprivation, and squashed dreams? Does it make you think you are poor? Does it make you afraid of money?
Why I Love Budgets
I love having a budget. It's my map, my plan, my path to my dreams. It reminds me that I want something bigger than the little impulses that pop up during the day. It puts me in control of my destiny. My budget removes the fear that I do not have enough. With my budget I can see clearly that I do have enough to pay my bills and buy the things I need. If it looks like I don't have enough in one category then I can move numbers around until it works. And in the extreme cases where there really isn't enough money coming in... then my budget points it out and I can start taking steps to increase my income. That makes me feel powerful, not poor.
Focus on the Positive
I think people often use their distaste for the word budget as an excuse to avoid dealing with the reality of their situation. So if the word is turning you off, change your attitude towards it. Figure out what unpleasant images and feelings it brings up for you and compare them to what the word actually means. My description of why I love my budget is the polar opposite of why I think people hate budgets. The same word brings up exactly the opposite feelings for me.
A quick-fix short term solution is to give it another name that doesn't bring up the same feelings of dread. But don't be fooled, you will eventually have to look those scary feelings in the eye and tell 'em to scram. There, add that to the list of courageous things one has to do on the path to financial freedom.
Whether you call it budget, spending plan, cash flow plan, goal, or even Frank, ultimately we're talking about being aware of the money that flows through our hands and consciously directing that flow. We're talking about living on purpose.
What's So Bad About a Budget?
Where does this strong reaction to the word budget come from? Is it because of early life experiences and imprinting from parents who were stressed out about money? Does it make you think of disappointment, deprivation, and squashed dreams? Does it make you think you are poor? Does it make you afraid of money?
Why I Love Budgets
I love having a budget. It's my map, my plan, my path to my dreams. It reminds me that I want something bigger than the little impulses that pop up during the day. It puts me in control of my destiny. My budget removes the fear that I do not have enough. With my budget I can see clearly that I do have enough to pay my bills and buy the things I need. If it looks like I don't have enough in one category then I can move numbers around until it works. And in the extreme cases where there really isn't enough money coming in... then my budget points it out and I can start taking steps to increase my income. That makes me feel powerful, not poor.
Focus on the Positive
I think people often use their distaste for the word budget as an excuse to avoid dealing with the reality of their situation. So if the word is turning you off, change your attitude towards it. Figure out what unpleasant images and feelings it brings up for you and compare them to what the word actually means. My description of why I love my budget is the polar opposite of why I think people hate budgets. The same word brings up exactly the opposite feelings for me.
A quick-fix short term solution is to give it another name that doesn't bring up the same feelings of dread. But don't be fooled, you will eventually have to look those scary feelings in the eye and tell 'em to scram. There, add that to the list of courageous things one has to do on the path to financial freedom.
Whether you call it budget, spending plan, cash flow plan, goal, or even Frank, ultimately we're talking about being aware of the money that flows through our hands and consciously directing that flow. We're talking about living on purpose.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Of Courage and Carnivals
Once again, I am awed by the number of bloggers out there who share such fantastic information and insights with the rest of us on our personal finance journey. I've been perusing three carnivals this week and thought I would pick out a few articles that highlight something I've been thinking a lot about lately: courage.
Courage
It takes courage to make changes in your life.
It takes courage to step out of your comfort zone.
It takes courage to look at yourself and admit you've been making mistakes.
It takes courage to keep pushing through even when things are really hard.
Congratulations to all of you who are working courageously towards your goals.
Where I Need Courage
The gaping courage-hole in my life is my resistance to stepping out of my comfort zone. For some reason I have decided that most DIY projects are too much for me. If I could just muster up the courage to learn a few skills and not be so afraid, I could definitely save a few hundred more dollars every year.
At the Carnival of Money Stories, Getting Out Of Debt writes about a simple car repair that I don't yet have the courage to handle. I've Paid For This Twice Already talks about a simple dryer vent repair that I would have spent way too much money on.
At the Festival of Frugality, A Dollar a Day asks what unnecessary expense is worth it to you? I have a few that I could give up if I had the courage to deal with the inconvenience of creating and adjusting to a new routine.
Big Courage
There are some things that require tremendous courage. It is when we tap into this "big courage" that we begin to find out what we're really made of. These posts from the Carnival of Personal Finance might give you some food for thought .
My Two Dollars reminds us that we are not our "stuff". How many of us base our identities on our possessions because we're too afraid to look ourselves squarely in the mirror?
A Dollar a Day is reflecting on some emotional issues surrounding money. As women, many of us have been raised to reject our power and it is going to take a lot of courage to reclaim it.
I've only pulled out a few articles here but I highly recommend that you check out the rest of the great entries at the following sites:
Carnival of Money Stories at College of Cash
Festival of Frugality at Mighty Bargain Hunter
Carnival of Personal Finance at The Financial Blogger
Courage
It takes courage to make changes in your life.
It takes courage to step out of your comfort zone.
It takes courage to look at yourself and admit you've been making mistakes.
It takes courage to keep pushing through even when things are really hard.
Congratulations to all of you who are working courageously towards your goals.
Where I Need Courage
The gaping courage-hole in my life is my resistance to stepping out of my comfort zone. For some reason I have decided that most DIY projects are too much for me. If I could just muster up the courage to learn a few skills and not be so afraid, I could definitely save a few hundred more dollars every year.
At the Carnival of Money Stories, Getting Out Of Debt writes about a simple car repair that I don't yet have the courage to handle. I've Paid For This Twice Already talks about a simple dryer vent repair that I would have spent way too much money on.
At the Festival of Frugality, A Dollar a Day asks what unnecessary expense is worth it to you? I have a few that I could give up if I had the courage to deal with the inconvenience of creating and adjusting to a new routine.
Big Courage
There are some things that require tremendous courage. It is when we tap into this "big courage" that we begin to find out what we're really made of. These posts from the Carnival of Personal Finance might give you some food for thought .
My Two Dollars reminds us that we are not our "stuff". How many of us base our identities on our possessions because we're too afraid to look ourselves squarely in the mirror?
A Dollar a Day is reflecting on some emotional issues surrounding money. As women, many of us have been raised to reject our power and it is going to take a lot of courage to reclaim it.
I've only pulled out a few articles here but I highly recommend that you check out the rest of the great entries at the following sites:
Carnival of Money Stories at College of Cash
Festival of Frugality at Mighty Bargain Hunter
Carnival of Personal Finance at The Financial Blogger
Saturday, February 2, 2008
What My January Spending Taught Me
It's one thing to have a spending plan and quite another to stick to it. Ok this concept is not news to me, but I was reminded of it once again during January. If I just look at the numbers, I did quite well with my budget. I stayed within $20-$30 of all my major spending categories, spent less than I earned, and saved everything I intended to. The problem is that I can't just look at the numbers.
The information hidden behind the numbers is what is going to have a big impact on me and the world in the long run. And it's not pretty.
A Closer Look at My Gas Spending
I wrote a whole post on how I intended to maximize my gas mileage. I came in just $2 over budget, which I think is great considering I still have enough gas left in the car to go another week or so. But I didn't do the things I planned. If I had followed my own advice, I would have gotten better results. Why does that matter? After all, I stuck to my budget didn't I?
It matters because in this day and age, I have to be careful with my fuel consumption not only to prepare myself for rising prices, but because even the smallest steps will impact the environment. I forgot about that. A gas budget is going to be moot if we have no environment to live in.
A Closer Look at My Grocery Spending
This one is shameful even though my numbers here are pretty phenomenal. $135 at grocery stores including food, tp, toothpaste and hair color, $65 in eating out, and I even got a haircut and gave the lady a 35% tip. Plus I have plenty of food left over for a few more weeks. This looks good on paper!
The problem is I forgot to put my health into the equation. I have written about the importance of maintaining your health into old age and even wrote up a skeleton menu of healthful foods and how they would fit into my budget. But I didn't do all that stuff! In fact, this has been one of the most preservative-laden months I have had in a long time. Canned soups, frozen dinners, too much ice cream, and even drive-thrus at unmentionables. Yikes!
Why did this happen? I know a few things about myself that I failed to make accommodations for.
So What Did My January Spending Teach (or remind) Me?
It reminded me that I must keep all of my priorities in balance. If I am so busy focusing on one thing that other priorities suffer, then I need to make some adjustments. Sometimes the adjustments are simply a matter of being more aware and renewing my commitment. I can do that. But if I want to really make a difference, then I have to look closely at why things are falling behind and come up with some strategies to prevent that.
My gas spending I think simply needs a renewed commitment. The grocery spending however is going to require the additional strategies outlined above.
Here's hoping for a budget-wise, healthy, and environmentally friendlier February!
The information hidden behind the numbers is what is going to have a big impact on me and the world in the long run. And it's not pretty.
A Closer Look at My Gas Spending
I wrote a whole post on how I intended to maximize my gas mileage. I came in just $2 over budget, which I think is great considering I still have enough gas left in the car to go another week or so. But I didn't do the things I planned. If I had followed my own advice, I would have gotten better results. Why does that matter? After all, I stuck to my budget didn't I?
It matters because in this day and age, I have to be careful with my fuel consumption not only to prepare myself for rising prices, but because even the smallest steps will impact the environment. I forgot about that. A gas budget is going to be moot if we have no environment to live in.
A Closer Look at My Grocery Spending
This one is shameful even though my numbers here are pretty phenomenal. $135 at grocery stores including food, tp, toothpaste and hair color, $65 in eating out, and I even got a haircut and gave the lady a 35% tip. Plus I have plenty of food left over for a few more weeks. This looks good on paper!
The problem is I forgot to put my health into the equation. I have written about the importance of maintaining your health into old age and even wrote up a skeleton menu of healthful foods and how they would fit into my budget. But I didn't do all that stuff! In fact, this has been one of the most preservative-laden months I have had in a long time. Canned soups, frozen dinners, too much ice cream, and even drive-thrus at unmentionables. Yikes!
Why did this happen? I know a few things about myself that I failed to make accommodations for.
- Over the past year or so I have developed a low tolerance for hunger. If I am hungry I will eat right away. All proactive thoughts about health and nutrition lose their power. In order to accommodate this, I should keep healthful foods on hand at all times. I didn't do that.
- I do not like to cook. If I am tired after a long day the last thing I want to do is put together a meal. I avoid it like the plague. I need to give myself more time to prepare meals and also have meals all set to go for those late evenings. Again, I know this but I failed to do it.
- I can't say no to sugar. If I put that first bite in my mouth, I'm not stopping until that food item is completely gone. I can't bring home more than a single serving of dessert. I haven't found my off switch yet. Guess how much ice-cream I ate in three days because I purchased a half gallon of it. Yeah, too much. Some people don't know how to use credit wisely, I don't know how to use sugar wisely. It's best if I maintain strict control of my access to it.
So What Did My January Spending Teach (or remind) Me?
It reminded me that I must keep all of my priorities in balance. If I am so busy focusing on one thing that other priorities suffer, then I need to make some adjustments. Sometimes the adjustments are simply a matter of being more aware and renewing my commitment. I can do that. But if I want to really make a difference, then I have to look closely at why things are falling behind and come up with some strategies to prevent that.
My gas spending I think simply needs a renewed commitment. The grocery spending however is going to require the additional strategies outlined above.
Here's hoping for a budget-wise, healthy, and environmentally friendlier February!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Who is Responsible for You?
Meg at All Financial Matters does write some wonderfully provocative posts! I just read her article Take Responsibility for Your Money Problems. I agree with almost everything she says.
But then again, I am a firm believer in the concept of choice, and that we all have it in spades. Every moment of every day, I am making a choice. I can choose to act a certain way, to react a certain way, or to not act at all. The more conscious I am of the choices I am making, the more I am able to control my 'destiny'.
Who is responsible for my destiny? My parents? My employer? The government? The markets? Luck? Is that what I want?
Who's responsible for your destiny?
But then again, I am a firm believer in the concept of choice, and that we all have it in spades. Every moment of every day, I am making a choice. I can choose to act a certain way, to react a certain way, or to not act at all. The more conscious I am of the choices I am making, the more I am able to control my 'destiny'.
Who is responsible for my destiny? My parents? My employer? The government? The markets? Luck? Is that what I want?
Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice;
it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.
William Jennings Bryan
Who's responsible for your destiny?
Friday, January 11, 2008
Loving Your Job
I just read a great post by Meg at All Financial Matters entitled Loving Your Job is Overrated. She points out that "it’s not wise to endlessly encourage and promise today’s youth that they can and should LOVE their jobs. They might, and that’s great, but they don’t have to."
In some ways yes, I got lucky. When I was 6 I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up... and that's the job I got. Most people don't know what they want to be when they grow up. Or they do, but then realize that they should find a more practical job because they won't make much money in their dream field unless they're the best of the best.
In other ways, luck had nothing to do with it. I made some pretty critical choices.
Choice #1: I chose life over money
I was willing to earn very little money as long as I got to spend most of my waking hours doing the things that I love to do.
Choice #2: I chose to minimize societal influences that push me towards valuing money over life
Hello.. TV and magazines anyone? Once you go on a media fast you begin to realize just how strongly you are pulled by the messages around you that make your life suddenly feel inadequate. So when Meg says the promises of a fulfilling and passionately loved job puts extraordinary pressure and sets expectations, she's right. It's because the fulfilling job is in direct conflict with the ubiquitous societal norms of having certain things and looking a certain way; norms that we're not even consciously aware of.
One day, I stopped watching TV. I didn't set out on an intentional media fast, I just didn't get cable. I didn't even bother to get rabbit-ears. And then it became very easy to never turn on the tube. I didn't turn it on for four years. I also stopped buying magazines. I'd walk into the grocery store and flip through a magazine at the checkout counter but have to put it down within 30 seconds because of stimulation overload.
The other thing I did was to move away from the community I grew up in. Don't get me wrong, there are many wonderful things about my community and I go back and hang out with them occasionally. But most of the people I grew up with are upper-middle class. That's pretty rich in my book. They live in fancy new houses, have fancy new furniture and fancy new cars. They look at my fancy degree (which I happen to have) and can't understand why I didn't pick a fancy career to go with it. I don't need that. I chose not to surround myself with that.
Choice #3: I chose to reflect carefully on my work and recognize what it is that I love.
This is one of the more enlightening things I have done in my life. For someone who has known what she wanted to be since she was 6, it was quite a surprise to learn that I didn't need a specific job title to get the same joy from my work. I was able to distill out the features of the work that really rocked my world. I will probably write a dedicated post about this in the near future. But for now, suffice it to say that if we can get over the hump of thinking that it's only be being a writer/actor/chef/artist/athlete/politician/(fill in the blank) can we LOVE our jobs, then maybe we can actually begin to find fulfillment and joy in the work we actually do.
"We’ve been taught since we were toddlers that we can be anything we want to be, that we should always be happy, that we can and should find a fulfilling job that entwines all of our talents and interests. Those promises bring extraordinary pressure and set expectations that frankly, not many people can or will ever realize."The thing is, I love my job. Actually, I LOVE my job. Did I get lucky?
In some ways yes, I got lucky. When I was 6 I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up... and that's the job I got. Most people don't know what they want to be when they grow up. Or they do, but then realize that they should find a more practical job because they won't make much money in their dream field unless they're the best of the best.
In other ways, luck had nothing to do with it. I made some pretty critical choices.
Choice #1: I chose life over money
I was willing to earn very little money as long as I got to spend most of my waking hours doing the things that I love to do.
Choice #2: I chose to minimize societal influences that push me towards valuing money over life
Hello.. TV and magazines anyone? Once you go on a media fast you begin to realize just how strongly you are pulled by the messages around you that make your life suddenly feel inadequate. So when Meg says the promises of a fulfilling and passionately loved job puts extraordinary pressure and sets expectations, she's right. It's because the fulfilling job is in direct conflict with the ubiquitous societal norms of having certain things and looking a certain way; norms that we're not even consciously aware of.
One day, I stopped watching TV. I didn't set out on an intentional media fast, I just didn't get cable. I didn't even bother to get rabbit-ears. And then it became very easy to never turn on the tube. I didn't turn it on for four years. I also stopped buying magazines. I'd walk into the grocery store and flip through a magazine at the checkout counter but have to put it down within 30 seconds because of stimulation overload.
The other thing I did was to move away from the community I grew up in. Don't get me wrong, there are many wonderful things about my community and I go back and hang out with them occasionally. But most of the people I grew up with are upper-middle class. That's pretty rich in my book. They live in fancy new houses, have fancy new furniture and fancy new cars. They look at my fancy degree (which I happen to have) and can't understand why I didn't pick a fancy career to go with it. I don't need that. I chose not to surround myself with that.
Choice #3: I chose to reflect carefully on my work and recognize what it is that I love.
This is one of the more enlightening things I have done in my life. For someone who has known what she wanted to be since she was 6, it was quite a surprise to learn that I didn't need a specific job title to get the same joy from my work. I was able to distill out the features of the work that really rocked my world. I will probably write a dedicated post about this in the near future. But for now, suffice it to say that if we can get over the hump of thinking that it's only be being a writer/actor/chef/artist/athlete/politician/(fill in the blank) can we LOVE our jobs, then maybe we can actually begin to find fulfillment and joy in the work we actually do.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Quality of Life... Now and Forever!
All this talk and thought of money brings up the subject of quality of life. After all, why do I want money anyway? So I can live a certain way.
Beyond the basics of having enough to eat and a safe home etc. what are the things I need in my life to feel that sense of "Yeah! Can life get any better?!" ? I actually know the answer to this because I said that very thing one morning and managed to sustain that feeling for a few years.
So here goes...
Health
When my weight is low, my muscles are lean and toned, when I can sprint up and down steps without getting winded, and can lift boxes and move furniture without help... I look good and I feel good. I don't get headaches or backaches or grumpy aches. When I eat leafy greens and berries and veggies the colors of the rainbow, when I eat brown rice and slow cooked oatmeal and indulge in wild salmon once in a while... my hair and my skin and my smile glow. Oh yes, I need my health.
Beauty
I am a very visual person. The forms and shapes and colors around me can turn me off or turn me on. I need beauty in my home. The intensity of the light, the harmony of the colors, the balance of the forms, the exquisite beauty in the order of things. I can sit for two hours on my living room couch completely blissed out by the arrangement of the things around me. An no, none of them were at all expensive. So, surrounding myself with beauty is lovely. It's like those auditory musician types listening to a symphony or gustatory wine connoisseurs on a winery tour.
Meaningful Work
How I spend my time is extremely important to me. I have found that I need the following components in my work in order to feel that odd and perfect mixture of contentment and exhilaration.
Optimal level of intellectual challenge: When my skills and the demands of the task at hand are perfectly matched about half the time. The other half of the time the demands should be just a little beyond my reach so I have to learn, stretch, and grow.
Service or contribution: I need my work to make a difference in the wider world. It doesn't have to make a huge difference, just as long as it goes beyond me and my small circle.
Alone Time
Yes, I am an introvert. Not excessively so, but enough that the constant company of others begins to rattle my brain a little. I need quiet time alone to reflect on my day or to simply not think at all. Some people call it meditation. I have never engaged in formal meditation but I naturally find myself slipping into a still, restful state of awareness when I give myself the time and remove myself from the buzz of activity. This means I have to make sure I don't over-schedule my day.
Love
Can't live without love. Life without love is a deathly life. So say I. I need a certain level of love in my relationships but to reach the state I mentioned at the beginning of this post I need something special. This is the kind of love that feels so big no hole can empty it. Children often make one feel this way. Some people experience it with their pets. Occasionally we find a friend or lover who falls (or rises?) into that state with us. And sometimes it just wells up from within. However I can get it, I'll take it.
Independence
I need a certain level of autonomy in my life. I consider choice to be my birthright. I need then to be able to recognize my choices, to act on them and to experience the consequences. Granted the consequences aren't always what I expect, but the fact that I have the opportunity to make those mistakes is more valuable to me. The trick to this lies at the recognition stage. I've had enough experiences in my life to now recognize that I always have a choice. When I'm stuck between that rock and the hard place and the samurai warrior and the poisonous snake and the government and the media and the terrorists.... I still have a choice. It's a state of mind and if I lose that... then I won't be able to go bounding out into the sunshine on a balmy day in May and holler "Yeah! Does life get any better?!"
Sunshine on a Balmy Day in May
'nuf said.
And ohhhh look! None of these things require a whole lot of money. Good thing too because I'm just now starting to make what some would call a decent wage.
Here's hoping for health, beauty, meaningful work, alone time, love, independence, and occasional warm and sunny days - now and forever. Now that is a quality life.
Beyond the basics of having enough to eat and a safe home etc. what are the things I need in my life to feel that sense of "Yeah! Can life get any better?!" ? I actually know the answer to this because I said that very thing one morning and managed to sustain that feeling for a few years.
So here goes...
Health
When my weight is low, my muscles are lean and toned, when I can sprint up and down steps without getting winded, and can lift boxes and move furniture without help... I look good and I feel good. I don't get headaches or backaches or grumpy aches. When I eat leafy greens and berries and veggies the colors of the rainbow, when I eat brown rice and slow cooked oatmeal and indulge in wild salmon once in a while... my hair and my skin and my smile glow. Oh yes, I need my health.
Beauty
I am a very visual person. The forms and shapes and colors around me can turn me off or turn me on. I need beauty in my home. The intensity of the light, the harmony of the colors, the balance of the forms, the exquisite beauty in the order of things. I can sit for two hours on my living room couch completely blissed out by the arrangement of the things around me. An no, none of them were at all expensive. So, surrounding myself with beauty is lovely. It's like those auditory musician types listening to a symphony or gustatory wine connoisseurs on a winery tour.
Meaningful Work
How I spend my time is extremely important to me. I have found that I need the following components in my work in order to feel that odd and perfect mixture of contentment and exhilaration.
Optimal level of intellectual challenge: When my skills and the demands of the task at hand are perfectly matched about half the time. The other half of the time the demands should be just a little beyond my reach so I have to learn, stretch, and grow.
Service or contribution: I need my work to make a difference in the wider world. It doesn't have to make a huge difference, just as long as it goes beyond me and my small circle.
Alone Time
Yes, I am an introvert. Not excessively so, but enough that the constant company of others begins to rattle my brain a little. I need quiet time alone to reflect on my day or to simply not think at all. Some people call it meditation. I have never engaged in formal meditation but I naturally find myself slipping into a still, restful state of awareness when I give myself the time and remove myself from the buzz of activity. This means I have to make sure I don't over-schedule my day.
Love
Can't live without love. Life without love is a deathly life. So say I. I need a certain level of love in my relationships but to reach the state I mentioned at the beginning of this post I need something special. This is the kind of love that feels so big no hole can empty it. Children often make one feel this way. Some people experience it with their pets. Occasionally we find a friend or lover who falls (or rises?) into that state with us. And sometimes it just wells up from within. However I can get it, I'll take it.
Independence
I need a certain level of autonomy in my life. I consider choice to be my birthright. I need then to be able to recognize my choices, to act on them and to experience the consequences. Granted the consequences aren't always what I expect, but the fact that I have the opportunity to make those mistakes is more valuable to me. The trick to this lies at the recognition stage. I've had enough experiences in my life to now recognize that I always have a choice. When I'm stuck between that rock and the hard place and the samurai warrior and the poisonous snake and the government and the media and the terrorists.... I still have a choice. It's a state of mind and if I lose that... then I won't be able to go bounding out into the sunshine on a balmy day in May and holler "Yeah! Does life get any better?!"
Sunshine on a Balmy Day in May
'nuf said.
And ohhhh look! None of these things require a whole lot of money. Good thing too because I'm just now starting to make what some would call a decent wage.
Here's hoping for health, beauty, meaningful work, alone time, love, independence, and occasional warm and sunny days - now and forever. Now that is a quality life.
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