Why you probably haven't seen or talked to me lately...

There is a good chance you are reading this and wondering why it is so hard to find time to Skype, talk on the phone or even meet for a coffee with me. I'll tell you where I've been. I have been in the process of not only rejecting "the American Dream", but reversing the process that began my freshman year of college when I entered Express in the mall and was offered a harmless student credit card... This past April I began a work schedule that would make a very strong, healthy and busy person extremely tired. I declared war on my personal debt and booked my schedule so full of work that I wondered how many months I would be able to endure 7 day work weeks! Last summer I stopped shopping recreationally shopping and got so sick and tired of being broke, discontent and trapped! I was forced to stop spending and begin living life and making decisions that would stop digging myself a bigger hole. At 26 years old I absolutely refused to resort to bankruptcy! I got myself into this mess and I was going to get myself out with the help of God himself. I moved back to New York City, traveled with the Auto Shows and stayed with hospitable friends again until I could pay monthly rent. As the amount of work and opportunity grew I worked every second that was physically possible. I haven't had the normal relaxing summer most enjoy, but it has been liberating. As the paychecks began to pile up and the hard work caught up with me I started making phone calls. I called Mastercard and gave them ALL their $$, then I called Best Buy and told them the balance was in the account and a couple weeks after that I paid off my VISA online! When I got up each morning this summer to go to work or travel to the next city I had a smile on my face! I was one day closer to owning my life again! As I write this I have been able to pay off over $6,000 of personal debt!! I am following the Debt Repayment tips as outlined in Dave Ramsey's book "The Total Money Makeover". His plan is sound and it works. My new dream is to accept the motto " Have Less. Do More. Be More."

Is is not so important WHERE you begin, but that you do!

It has been a very long time since I wrote. The funny thing is that I compose blog entries in my mind on a consistent basis, but so many creative excuses enter my mind and convince me not to put the thoughts into writing. Sometimes it is the fear of being misunderstood or just plain insecurity. Am I being too candid? too personal? offensive? Sometimes I am just overwhelmed by the range of topics that my mind will think about each day. Should I put them in order, organize them or make categories for them? Who Cares! My new conclusion is "Who Cares! Just Start!" I've gotten to the point that my own indecisiveness and timidity is annoying myself! I choose to embrace the perspective of Theodore Roosevelt: "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." I will share my journey with those who want to read....