FEAR set me free.....

[Shawn Coverdell]

Sorry, I know what they say, I read most of the books. Fear is what holds people back. Sorry guys. Guess I am different. Praise god for that. This is my story. So 5 years ago I had  one of those jobs all kids dream about obtaining. You know the kind of job where you go to school and sit through all those classes that teach you how you evolved from a chimpanzee and quantum physics and all that stuff. One of those jobs. Basically, I worked in a cube city. I had a security card with my mug shot on the front and it would open doors so I did not have to. I had a cubicle equipped it 2 monitors, state of the art equipment. My desk went up and down with the touch of a button. I made a handsome 6 figure income. I could come and go as I pleased. and I had just been released to work at home for the majority of my days. I could work out of my house off the Columbia river with a panoramic view of the mountains. Had it made right? 

Well, here is the part that you will need to be at least 40 years old to understand...…

I felt guilty because I  was not happy. I was not satisfied. Not in the least!!!! and I felt bad for not being satisfied with what most people want. 

My wife always tells this story;  When my youngest son would take too long in the bath tub, she would knock on the door and tell him, " you better get out or you will turn into a prune."  Shortly after he would always get out.  This went on for years. One day he asked her, "Mom, will I actually turn into a prune". She was shocked that he believed this myth and explained to him that it was not true, that she was just teasing him to get him out of the tub. 

I believe this story was not meant for our son, It was meant for me!  

You see. I was programed to fit in. I guess to be a 99%er. I had been sold on the usual retirement plan. You click on a few buttons and they take out a certain percentage of your pay. It goes into a 401K plan and uses "dollar cost averaging" and "diversification" then when you reach a certain age, when the government said it was OK do so. (old) you could live off that money until you die. they said retirement is a "3 legged stool", meaning social security, pensions, and an annuity from your 401K winnings. 

My entire office was absolutely convinced that the path to SUCCESS was to  work until you reached MRA (Minimum Retirement Age) 

Fear Set me Free. I kept having nightmares related to the old movie "Logan's Run". Where once you turned a certain age you entered the carousel where you were cut to shreds by a fan. Logan was the  odd character who decided running was wiser than joining the carousel 

So I Booked us a cruise. It sucked. I mean I tried to be a boring person but wow, I just could not do it. Both of us could not do it. How lame does it get right? I just could not bring myself to enjoy 7 dollar beers and Ports loaded with bars and gift shops. When I returned, I googled financial freedom, early retirement, get out of jail now. and stumbled onto Bigger Pockets.

I could not buy realistate fast enough. I walked out of my cubicle last December at the age of 45 years old. five years after discovering bigger pockets . NO REGRETS! wow. what a move. I feel like I escaped the Mormon cult or something. I feel free.

I keep looking in the mirror and though I am ageing I am by no means a dried up prune. I got out of the bath water just in time. 

I feel VERY rich, and Fear was my initial motivation. 

Homes in the Hood.