In response to Coach’s Comments from 2 posts ago (”Cruel Words”) - the old song goes, “you’ve got to be cruel to be kind, in the right measure”…I must confess, I really didn’t perceive those words as cruel. Rather, I saw them as an honest reflection of a situation which is somewhat Catch 22. I have done as much as I can do right now without compromising my values and lifestyle, or rushing to change my job for a bigger paycheque while trading off things which ultimately matter more than money. But money is important - I can’t deny that, it’s definitely been the root of fear and frustration I’ve been experiencing much of my adult life. I’m aware of what needs to happen for bigger changes and indeed, apparently - for the time being at least - I’m committed to option 3, patience! Problem is, I’ve spent a lot of my adult life in that place and it’s often a difficult place to be.

In an effort to remain proactive about achieving my life goals and not merely settle into the default position of complacency (so easy to do when things are going “ok” in life), I was challenged yet again to commit to paper a vision for my future. So I’m working on writing it all down. Deciding what the negotiables and non-negotiables are and a reasonable timeline in which to accomplish my various goals. It’s hard and scary! Like Jack, I’m not a consumer. I don’t need or want a lot of material possessions, have no desire to own a home (a cabin or cottage one day perhaps, but don’t need home ownership in the city) I don’t have children or other people to consider in my spending habits. I do want to be able to afford education, travel and to be able to spend spontaneously on meals, socializing, etc., without having to count every penny or be worried I won’t have enough to make ends meet each month. I also want to continue investing in my future so I know I’ll have a safe, secure, happy retirement.

The investment club should begin to shift that somewhat, giving me access to investment power I wouldn’t otherwise have had on my own. The rest, as they say, is up to me. I must be the one to identify my needs, develop strategies to meet them and do what it takes to get there. Certainly feels like a double edged sword to me….let’s hope I land on the right side of it!

I have committed to completing my written vision and sharing it with an accountability buddy by November 1st. I will elaborate on the vision and my process in reaching it, in my next blog.