Hi Everyone!
I have thought about blogging for years, but really never truly committed myself to creating one. I absolutely love reading good blogs, though.
This past year (and life, in general) has been incredibly interesting, and it has started with me reading blogs on a regular basis. It all started on September 1st, 2011, after returning from my first summer as Executive Director (with my wife, Deb) of the Kinhaven Summer Music School (this blog will cover quite a bit about the school, it’s mission, my colleagues, etc., but for now let’s just say that it is Heaven on Earth!). Every time I leave there, I ask myself, “How the hell can I make this my full time job?”. I mean, it already is a full time gig (just without the pay!) but the more I put into the place the more it thrives. The quick answer to my question was “you have too much debt and too many bills…don’t even go there right now”. It was true!
I am many things, and one of them is an avid reader. I absolutely adore learning new things and feeding my mind, and reading is how I go about doing it. I read every book and blog I could about getting out of debt, and downloaded Zite as my app of choice for finding new info daily to that end. Blogs like Get Rich Slowly, Financial Samurai, and Mr. Money Moustache were daily reads for sure, and Dave Ramsey was tops on the list.
Again, I’ll cover the details of this in future entries, but the long and short of it is this: I made a lot of money, and I was broke. I spent just as much, if not more, than what I earned. Including student loan, cars, and consumer debt, I was in the 6 figures in debt! Fast forward to today, and I am an inch away from being debt free minus the house! It has not been easy, but it has been one of the most empowering and life changing moves I have ever made. All of a sudden, daydreams are taking a more serious note; I am not “locked in” to anything; I have less fear….off we go!
After the initial shock and life altering that selling all my crap, creating a budget, only paying cash for stuff, etc., wore off, I found myself in a groove. In my world, that meant….
Time for a new learning curve!!
This time? Health and body overhaul. I hadn’t broken a sweat in 15 years. September 1st, I started running. I began with 100 yards and graduated to a 5k in 4 weeks. I started swim lessons a couple weeks ago and, yes, the bike is next. I’m competing in a triathlon in June 2013. Life is certainly becoming very interesting. The learning curve rocks.
So back to the reason for the blog (I think):
One: I got a lot of crap on my mind. Maybe some of this stuff will be thought provoking to others and we can get a cool conversation going over the internet…maybe not.
Two: I really believe that we only do this life thing once. There are many times I hope I am wrong about this, but I’m going with my gut for now. I love doing new things. I hate living in fear and trying to do the “safe” thing (keeping a job for the insurance, not take risks, you know…), but I am not going to put my family in danger, either. Again, this “no debt” thing has my wheels turning and my juices flowing, and I am going to blog about it!
Finally, I want to utilize my (very finite) life energy to the absolute max. I have a lot of stakes in the fire. I am an educational administrator, a Professor, an Executive Director, a Dad, a husband, and a musician amongst other things (I cook, I golf, and now I train for triathlons!).
I have been lucky that my “rat race” has been filled with work that I enjoy, but I am looking to take a break for awhile and focus on just a few important aspects of my life..and I think I may be able to afford it!
So…what does the idea of “finite life energy” mean to you? What would you do different with your life if you didn’t have the bills? Would you take a risk and put all of your energy into a non-profit you loved, even if it meant taking a huge pay cut for a bit?
I look forward to reading your thoughts!
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