My wife and I have recently changed jobs and moved across the country. We like our new jobs and we like where we live. We are close enough to Indianapolis that we can find great restaurants and entertainment. But the major difference is that with the change in jobs, we have found each other again.
I never thought we had lost each other and never would have said so without us coming here. But the closeness that we have now stands out like the times we shared when we were first married. It is scary to realize that we had moved so far from those times without even realizing it. But the joy we have now must have meant that we were at the very least moving away from happiness.
The lesson, if there is one to be had, is trite and practically cliche'. Don't take your loved ones for granted. Don't count on always being happy and content just because you once were. Don't ignore those signs in your life that show you that you are miserable.
We left jobs that were good paying jobs and that offered advancement. But the time that those jobs required from us, the efforts and stress that they placed upon us, kept US from being US. My wife is a blessing from God. She thinks the same about me. We have finally returned to honoring that gift above any other concern. And hopefully, this time, we will keep that gift at the forefront of our lives.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Obvious and Yet Difficult
There are so many things in life that are obvious. If you want to not have money problems, always spend less than you make. If you want more vitality, then exercise regularly. If you want to lose weight, eat appropriately. All of these things are easy to see and understand.
But we are a nation of broke, lazy, fat people all the same. My family will be out of debt soon because we have begun to manage our finances. We read books on it and go to a weekly seminar about it (we are following the Dave Ramsey method). And as soon as this November, we will have no more debt and start an intensive retirement plan. But we strangely needed something beyond the obvious (spend less).
The obvious in the above example is an intellectual argument. But humans are not driven by intellect. If we were, we would all be wealthy, active, thin people. There is an emotional angle that comes from meeting with others who are attempting to do the same things that you are attempting to do.
I am still 80 pounds over weight and I don't exercise at all, but my finances are starting to change. And my family is also starting an eating plan that might help with the weight. Still have not found the motivation to work out, but maybe it will come.
That is another thing about emotional motivation. You start winning at your finances and you get optimistic about other things. None of this is easy. But nothing worth doing is ever easy. Although they may be very, very obvious.
But we are a nation of broke, lazy, fat people all the same. My family will be out of debt soon because we have begun to manage our finances. We read books on it and go to a weekly seminar about it (we are following the Dave Ramsey method). And as soon as this November, we will have no more debt and start an intensive retirement plan. But we strangely needed something beyond the obvious (spend less).
The obvious in the above example is an intellectual argument. But humans are not driven by intellect. If we were, we would all be wealthy, active, thin people. There is an emotional angle that comes from meeting with others who are attempting to do the same things that you are attempting to do.
I am still 80 pounds over weight and I don't exercise at all, but my finances are starting to change. And my family is also starting an eating plan that might help with the weight. Still have not found the motivation to work out, but maybe it will come.
That is another thing about emotional motivation. You start winning at your finances and you get optimistic about other things. None of this is easy. But nothing worth doing is ever easy. Although they may be very, very obvious.
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