Money money money maaahney..
I just had a little mini debate with a friend on IM about money.
you know who you are.
It was funny because I could, as I usually do with this person, totally hear myself in her words.
I was talking about how I'm thinking about selling my car this weekend because I'm finally right side up on it and I really want to get the debt of it off my back. If I can sell it for what Kelly blue book says its worth, I could net enough from the sale to buy another, more mechanically sound, but older and uglier car. I'm totally about that..
But during that conversation I said, Its my money, I work hard for it and I'm not going to waste it.
She said, No its not.
I knew where she was going and I really did want to roll my eyes...Sometimes it bothers me when we as Christians do that. We stop listening to the point of the conversation to correct the semantics of what has been said.
Then we got into topic of God's money/My money and I really think that TRULY all good things come from God...I think every dime I have is from his hand...and
sure everything under the sun is his, so OK technically its his money...and technically my life
isnt my own...But I also really
really think that the money that I have is a gift from God that I have to manage. I think he gives it to me...then I give him some back in appreciation...then its up to me to manage it in the wisest way possible.
That means having debt is stupid...Thats all over proverbs...
That means my goal in life right now is to get out from under the slavery that debt has me in..(hence why I'm going to sell the car, and why I'm fine working overtime for the extra cash to throw at my debt) when I get out from under this debt...I'm staying out from under it. FOREVER. That means no more student loans, no more credit cards, no more car payments, and no mortgages...Every dime that I earn (through the job that God provided) is going to be used, not losed. (yeah, i know it should be lost, but don't correct my semantics).
I think the "its not my money," is fine if you want to think that...But i really think its semantical...Obviously, I'm not taking it with me...so its not going to be mine forever...but while I'm here it sure can be...
Sure, God knows and can do anything, so if He wants to take it back, He sure can...In that sense, sure, its not mine..But for now, yesterday morning at 8am, he did give me some, and for now, its mine.
If giving God ownership of it helps you use it better, then great! It doesnt really help me use it better...
If Christianity really did think of all their money as Gods...I think the whole community would behave a little differently...there wouldnt be a brand new lexus in the bunch..we'd all be driving three year old mercedes because they're the only car that appreciates in value. None of us would have mortgages or credit cards, because the financing and interest rates are a waste of "God's money." We'd work harder not to bounce checks because overdraft fees are a waste of God's money...
In my opinion, thinking about it as a gift he's given to me (making it mine) or thinking it stays his is closer to semantics or perspective than it is to truth or fiction. However God has to get me to think about the money in my bank account to get me to spend it the
right way is how he's going to get me to think about it.
The reality is, NO money belongs to ANYBODY. Money slips in and out of our hands daily. From one person to another. You get the numbers in and the numbers out...The deal is to get the numbers to go in more rapidly than they go out. God gives us more than enough in this world, and we all think we dont have enough. But we do. I do. I just give it to the wrong people. God gives us money to provide for ourselves and to help others. But the money meant to help others goes out the window with the finance charges and the overdraft fees to put the things we want in our laps now, instead of when we can afford it. 75% of people over the age of 65 can't write a check for 600$...Even though, over the course of their lives, God provided more than enough. Where did that money go?
I'm not doing that anymore.
I'm going to work harder, to get rid of the hole I've gotten myself into. And then I'm going to spend the money that God gives me in ways that make more sense in this world.
The first time I've actually stolen Rosina's posting idea (even though I've wanted to before and have refrained)
Four Jobs I've had: McDonalds drive thru, rollerskating rink attendant, TESL teacher, waitress (two weeks now, I got a "sore throat" and never went back)
Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over: hehe...Tommy Boy, Elf, American History X, Bridget Jones Diary (ONE< NOT TWO...two was awful in my mind)
Four Places I've Lived: Easy one.. Cumberland Maryland, Chesnee South Carolina, Split Croatia, and the mighty Cola. Plus lots more...those are just the ones I feel like I have to stand up for...
Four Shows I've Loved: Friends, The Apprentice, Mythbusters (those guys are SMART), The Biggest Loser (one should only BE so motivated)
Four Places I've vacationed: Willmington, NC (Holla!!) Rome, Italia (mmmm) New York City, Orlando
Four of my favorite dishes: Pot Roast, Mashed potatos, corn and rolls; Fried chicken, mac n cheese, pickled beets; Philly Cheese steaks; Chicken n dumplings
Four sites I Visit Daily: Dilbertblog.com, wachovia.com, beginnertriathlete.com, limewire.com
Four Places I'd Rather be right now: In bed (on my way) At the Beach..(who wouldnt?) Driving down a long windy road, in bed (well..i really wanna be there)
In fact...I'm going right now...
Well it's official
I've been "corporatized." Last week I worked late two of five days, worked 8 hours on Sunday, stayed till 630 tonight and actually brought work home. I haven't brought work home since I was an English teacher. Its not that I've not gotten behind at my current job, or not had the capability of bringing it home...I just haven't cared enough...
But today I sat in a supervisor chair...and said supervisory things....
I think I'm addicted.
I wanna be more.
I also won an Ipod nano....FLIPPIN SWEET! I've downloaded some audiobooks and been able to use it as a real motivator to get me to work harder. As I type now, I'm listening to John C Maxwell tell me about how Jimmy Carter exemplified the 16th of the 21 irrefutable laws of leadership...mm...
I also bought a book that I haven't read for a while...The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey...Its unbelieveable how simple and complicated money can be. I've been on the long road out of debt for a while now and I think its finally stuck. Especially after hearing Dave say that if I just stick with it for a while, live like no one else does, that later, I can
live like no one else. Dang...what a good book.
My financial future is looking up. Debt free before the end of the year...20,000 in savings before the end of 08 and enough money to pay cash for a home (yeah, you read that right) by my 33rd birthday. To own a house, flat out, by my 33rd birthday is the goal. According to this system, and the tens of thousands of people who've done it...Its possible. The great thing about the makeover is, its not a get rich quick scheme...33 is a ways off, and I'm not planning on buying some outrageously expensive first home. Its just based on the idea that your income is really your biggest asset. Its hard, and its honest. You don't have to be savvy, or strategic, you just have to be purposeful.
I'm SO feeling purposeful.
For example...Thursday is payday. Usually by now, I've spent every penny of my paycheck and rataionalized the savings out of my budget..(dexter needs this, I really need a new this, i deserve to splurge) But this time its not about that...its bigger. I know that if I can just hold my horses...later...and not too long from today...I'll be able to do so much more...
Like maybe even retire a millionaire.
mmm...
millionaire.
The New Office
Well, Its official. I have an office in my home. Ok so its really a desk in the diningroom, but as one who doesnt dine, its an office. I got this great desk at the Office Depot and assembled it myself. I pulled a muscle carrying it from the car.
Last night I sat at it and paid my bills. This morning I'm working on my laptop, drinking my icewater and eating granola.
Somehow I think this desk aged me 10 years.
Successful People and Successful thinking
I've been thinking a lot lately about the corellation between thinking successfully and having a successful life. Success is an interesting idea. That we can set our sights on something, decide that we're going to get there, work, and get there. You can't be successful without all the components being there. You really can't be successful without having a sequence of successful days in a row.
So to be successful, you have to find the motivation within yourself to do what you know you should everyday.
I've worked with all kinds of different people. The kind who work just to work. The job is easy, the pay is good, so they just come in and do what they should. Its not about moving up, or getting raises, or impressing people, its just about the grind. (Snooze, I couldnt handle that) Then there have been others who start at the bottom and make it their mission to move up. They work hard. They improve themselves. They kiss a little hiney. And then there have been the kinds of people who want more, but there's always something holding them back. It always seems to be something they can't control. "Oh well, so and so is doing it," Or "I'm too small to make a difference," or "I'll never get promoted, so and so doesnt like me enough." I hate working with thes people...I think I'm NATURALLY one of these people. Everything and everyone has a mission and their mission is to step on me to get where they want.
Well, it used to be me...If I let myself go, it becomes me.
But there's another type of coworker, the type I LONG to be...Its the kind that cares about the people they work with. They care about the people they work for. They care about customers, about coworkers, about integrity in their work. They move up the ranks and bring everyone else with them too. Everyone else doesnt come too because they're buds with this kind of coworker, but because that person made them better. They made them stronger. They inspired them to be more.
Dang if I don't want to be that kind of leader.
Starting New and Starting Over
CONGRATULATIONS ALLYSON RICKENBAKER...
Today I had the privilege of sticking next to Allyson on both the hardest and greatest day of her life. She lost a lot of weight today...most of it named Tommy. Divorce is a hard and pretty sad affair. In the few hours that we were in the courthouse, four couples successfully completed their own. Allyson's wasnt sad though...hers was great. She was poised, dignified, and as ready as she could be. I was proud.
She got everything she needed and nothing she didn't. Cheers to you Allyson Rickenbaker. Your new life begins now. I can't wait to see what you do with it.
On a simliar note, Allyson gets to start over today. The Start over is one of my favorite parts of life. Its the rare moment when your future opens up and your past ceases to matter. Allyson got a start over this afternoon. She got a new name, a little money in her pocket, and just enought pressure to force her into something new. Who she was when she was married doesnt matter. What she used to do with money doesnt matter. She's new today. Her horizion is opening before her.
Of course, the reality is that every day is essentially a start over. Every moment could be a start over if we so choose. At any point, we can say, the past doesnt matter, life starts today.
Its like the sign posted over the door at a logging company: The Best time to plant a tree is 5 years ago, the second best is today.
Cheers to Allyson. Cheers to anyone who stops living in what has always been and starts living in what could be.
