I am in a beautiful place in my life right now.
For the first time in my life, I realize that money doesn’t matter. I want to have enough so I'm not a burden on anyone else.
And even if I do become a burden to someone else, I’m okay with that too. I’ve paid my dues, and my wife has too. It’s just money. There is plenty of it to go around. And when you’re gone, it’s gone.
Food for thought.
I wonder if any man on his deathbed, surrounded by his children and loved ones, ever muttered the phrase, “I wish I spent less time with you all so that I could have made more money.”
Or, “My life has been well spent trying to make a better career instead of making better relationships. I am so proud that I sacrificed my marriage and the love of my children to be able to buy a better home and better cars. And boy, does my retirement package really look healthy. I’ll never get to enjoy it now…but there are plenty of commas in the number.”
I wonder if anyone reading this, if given the opportunity to write their own eulogy, would write, “Here lies a man that made the most of his life by improving his bank account instead of spending his free time with his grandchildren.”
I know this sounds dramatic, but this message rings true in my heart.
The only thing that matters while we are here on this earth is the relationships we have with our loved ones and how we can spread love to others we encounter. That’s it.
I have no idea how I lost sight of this.
It took three bouts with cancer and a blood infection for me to figure this out. Thank goodness I have the time to do things differently now.
A true key to success is to live your life for the ones you love.
Serve your family with all your heart. Enjoy every second you have with loved ones. Put your career and making money on the back burner. Make your life revolve around your loved ones. Let everyone you love know how much you love them, not by your words but by the time you spend with them.
Even yesterday, I talked with two friends of mine who are dealing with career decisions. I told them both to choose family. Whatever decision you make, choose family.
Choose the job that provides you with the opportunity to spend more time at home, with less stress and fewer responsibilities. Who cares what others think!
Look into the eyes of your children when you tell them that Daddy is going to be broke…but he will be home a lot more.
Tell them that Daddy isn’t going to miss any more baseball games or recitals.
Tell them that Daddy is going to be there when they go to bed each night…and he will be there when they wake up in the mornings.
Tell them that Daddy will come home from work in a good mood and full of energy.
Tell them that they will see Daddy hugging and kissing Mom a lot more.
Their eyes will light up like it’s Christmas!
I know we all have a responsibility in our society to be industrious hard workers. We must do our part. We must make our own way and never be a burden on society.
I am not saying that we need to become irresponsible degenerates. I am saying that somewhere along the way, we can’t lose sight of what is truly important. Love.
Wealth cannot bring happiness. It just cannot. It cannot provide the inner joy that can only come from loving someone and being loved.
My doctor emailed me during the Christmas season of 2022. The message was simple:
“May the Lord’s peace be with you. Spend quality time…now…with the people you love. Time is the only gift money can’t buy.”