The Ultimate Gift - Learning As I Go...

If you haven't seen The Ultimate Gift yet, then rent it right away, and shame on you as a hard-working entrepreneur for not seeing it yet!  It reminded me that today's financial struggles with the elevated life style I brought on from the "good times" will NEVER, EVER impede my true happiness...and only adds a hard lesson learned to my journey through this thing MANY take for granted, life!

Looking back (yeah I know, hindsight is always 20/20) I wish I would have done things differently during the refinance boom...well, a few things anyways.  If only I had heard the saying, "It's not how much you make, it's how much you save!" a few years earlier...like back in 2004 before I saw my income quadruple in 2005 and 2006.  Even though I wasn't careless with my new money, I did somewhat take the money for granted and should have saved much more of it.  Much, much more.  MISTAKE, BUT LESSON LEARNED!

Did I really need a $1,300 per month car payment?  Did I really need 6 bedrooms?  Did I really need .75 acres with a resort-style backyard?  Did I really need 2 houses?  Did I really need all of those trips to Vegas?  Did I really stop looking at price tags?  Did I really pay someone to do my yardwork?  Housework?

Trust me, I understand many people have much more than the above and have no financial worries whatsoever.  But where I come from, the above is big, MUCHO big!  I was raised by a disabled mother who would, even to this day, give me or any of my 4 siblings and even probably you too, her last few bucks.  She lives month to month on assistance from all of our tax dollars because she was hit by a little 'ole lady while walking in a crosswalk back in the early '80's.  She got a whopping settlement of $60k I believe.  Disabled for life in return for $60k!  WOW!

Anyways, my point was that I was raised in my formative years by a very loving, but disabled and poor mother.  My childhood taught me the value of a dollar and I believe I couldn't have asked for a better teacher. I wouldn't change my early years of wanting more for anything:  My childhood was a true GIFT from the man upstairs. Quite possibly, The Ultimate Gift!

Today, my passion and fire to achieve still burns brightly within and I can guarantee I will never be fooled by abundance again!  My true happiness is realized by loving and being loved by my 4 children:  Shilo, Jalen, Alia, and Nathan!  I have to remind myself, in my daily drive for achievement, that money means nothing on judgement day:  I make it a point to hug, kiss and tell each one of my children that I love them at least once a day!  There is no starting over as a parent!!!  Turn off the noise when you get home!  Listen and see your childen!  What Gift are you giving to your children?