Breaking Bartering, The Empowerment of Independent Wealth

I just watched this marriage seminar with some friends, the guy talked about how husbands and wives should barter- just like how we barter for our jobs.  He said couples should barter for sex or favors.  I don't know about all that, but the thing that stuck out to me was what he said about work.  He said we only go to work because they pay us.  So if they didn't pay us, we wouldn't show up.

That makes a lot of sense, and it helped me put my greatest career goal into words- To truly show up- even if I wasn't getting paid.  

That is how I want to live my life, and I intend to as soon as possible.  To really do this, though, I do need to be in a place in my life where I can truly not worry about money.  Being the practical nerd I am, I need to do this in a healthy way, I can't just live on a credit card for 12 months and call that being able to "not care about money."

When Real Growth Starts

I've always thought my ability to grow my business was a direct reflection of my ability to grow myself.  After hearing a sermon this morning about accepting the hard seasons of life and enjoying the moment, though, my wife and I's post sermon discussion made me realize something.

I realized my ability to grow myself is about so much more than just growing my business.  So many of us have issues in ALL areas of our lives that land in the exact same category (myself included).  I realized our ability to grow ourselves is a direct reflection of our ability to grow ourselves.  No duh.  Right?

I really think there is something to be said about grasping this truth, though.  Really identifying that person in the mirror- objectively looking at their weaknesses, short comings, and hot buttons.  Our lives are a result of the decisions we make.  Those decisions are influenced by our character, and our character is shaped by our habits.

Delivery

A new habit I've been working on is hand written letters.   One of my goals this year is to mail 3 per week.  A lost art I value, I'm hoping these unexpected notes of simplicity will somehow bring simple blessing to others.  A question I often find myself asking myself while walking to the mail box, especially if I am walking passed the persons house I am mailing the letter to, is why not save the stamp and hand it to them?  The answer of coarse, is that the cheapest delivery, is not always the best.  Especially when it comes to art.

Where is your wonderland?

 Alice: "Would you tell me, please, which way i ought to go from here?"

"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to." said the Cat.

"I don't much care where." said Alice.

"Then is doesn't matter which way you go." said the Cat.

-Lewis Carroll