Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Confessions of a Financial Coach

The Tortoise and The Hare:
It's not that fun to be and feel like you're the only tortoise in a world of hares. After all Tortoises are kind of ugly. They are big, bulky and all hard and wrinkled. Hares on the other hand, are fun, popular, fast, and sleek. Sexy even, compared to the tortoise. But if you think about it, tortoises are superior in many ways. While they are worn and weathered, they have everything they need to get through the storms of life. They carry their home after all, and they have endurance for the long journey. Hares are fast in bursts, but have ADD when it comes to staying focused on the task at hand. They are also ill prepared for drought and famine.
Sometimes I feel like the slowest tortoise in the world, like I'm never going to reach my financial goals. This isn't helped by feeling like I'm surrounded by hares, jetting past and dancing around me with all their excitement and great new things. Because of this, I do a lot of self-adjustment. I have to sit back and see the path I've traveled. It's been long and rocky. While I'm not to the top yet, I've come a very long way and life is good. If I had to, I would do it ALL again because it's been worth every hard step. While we only have one car for the time being and our house is a little on the small side for our growing family, I can't complain. My husband and I are debt free except for our house AND We have an emergency fund. That's more than about 80-90% of the population have going for them. So yes, I am a tortoise, but I'm proud to be one! Who wants to be a broke, stressed out hare? If you are trying hard to abandon your hare-like ways, keep trying! It's only too late if you stop trying. Just remember, every time I read the story, the tortoise ALWAYS wins.

Quotations of the Month November/ December

"Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way." Viktor E. Frankl

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." 1 Timothy 6:6-8