Monday, July 29, 2013

Patience? Luck?

So now that we have done our fair share of celebrating around here regarding my husbands newly acquired A.C.A.S. status, of course I have set to thinking about what that could mean for us.  And of course  I am thinking that anyone in their right mind looking for an actuary should be beating down our door just now.
"Opened Door With Bright Light" by ponsulak found at: freedigitalphotos.net
Never mind that it doesn't work that way.  I won't be convinced.

But seriously, something has clicked inside me and I can feel what everyone said about how things would certainly change for us once my husband was able to meet this first of his two main goals.  (The second being to become a fellow in the Society of Actuaries.  Give it another couple of years for that one.) 

I feel doors opening and opportunities knocking.  I actually can't remember feeling this 'open' to new possibilities. 

And yes, it absolutely feels downright weird and wrong to be feeling so hopeful while witnessing so many people that we are close to still struggling mightily just to get by.  That is absolutely not lost on me.
"Breaking Rope" by scottchan found at freedigitalphotos.net

Over the weekend, my husband and I sat down and went over our budget and future plans because that's what we always do when anything is changed up in our lives and because that's just how we roll.  I think being raised in poverty either makes you never able to deal with finances or makes you super careful.  We are certainly the latter.

My plans to start flight lessons will happen soon.  Not just yet, as we never count chickens before they hatch and Fall weather in Seattle is not a great time to start that sort of thing.  However, I can actually envision being able to tuck my two small dogs into the back seat of an airplane rather than the car and get down to sunny Palm Springs in half the time it takes to drive...

With that said, I will admit that I am hoping that my feelings of something else big coming are about us moving to a warmer weather place.  No, I don't have any solid evidence for my feelings.  I'm just really hoping.  It is hard to be patient sometimes.
"Business Art" by digitalart found at: freedigitalphotos.net
The other day I mentioned to a checker that I believed in the old adage that 'the harder you work, the luckier you get' and I couldn't believe that he was so quick to say that he didn't think he could agree.  I didn't know whether he was saying that because he felt that lots of people work hard and don't get anywhere or because he felt that people who are fortunate don't work hard to get where they are.  I didn't ask because I was afraid of the answer and how it might make me feel. 

Being bold usually pays off and I should have been willing to chance what that moment might have lead to.....

Have you had moments in life when you knew that things were changing in a nearly tangible way?  How do you feel about hard work and what it leads to?   How much control does anyone really have over life direction?

13 comments:

  1. I'm happy about your determined feeling that you have inside of you. That is where it starts, I believe. I have always been in complete control of my life. I knew what I wanted when I was very young and I made a vow to get to that place in life. You really have to know what you want and then it's easy to stay on that path. If one is wishy-washy, of course it's easy to get blown off course. Be firm.

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    1. If I had a nickel for every time I ever said how much I can't stand wishy-washy... not real fond of excuses either.
      You're so right to pick up on the determination coming from inside of me. We've all had obstacles in our lives. It's really only about what we do with them.

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  2. I love reading Emmet Fox and recommend his work to you. He talks about manifesting and the mental equivalent. You are doing exactly the things that will bring about the things you desire. It will come to you because you expect it and are living it already. I am looking forward to reading how all of this unfolds for you and your husband. It's going to be good.

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    1. Looked up Emmet Fox and I am so glad you pointed his stuff out to me. I think I will enjoy it very much. I love the idea of having a vision and a direction and going with it, no matter what comes your way!

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  3. I want you to think about who you made the comment to: a checker. That is someone who probably works very hard at very unskilled work and sees very little benefit. In fact, he might work 2-3 jobs and not see himself getting ahead of anything. So, is it surprising that his definition of "working really hard" and yours are different? No. Your definition of working really hard means elevating yourself to a higher level of success. His means literally working very hard at minimum wage. You were comparing apples and oranges.

    You are right to be feeling so hopeful. Good things are coming.

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    1. I'm sure you're right about the checker and where he and I might think differently. I guess I get so busy thinking that everyone wants and can have whatever they work toward that I sometimes forget that not everyone is shooting for the stars. I wish there was a way to give people a taste of what more life has to offer so they could feel just a little of what is so motivating- not talking financially here, but the wonderful feeling you get when something you really want and have worked for is finally realized. Yeah, if I could do that I would have done it for my sister a long time ago!

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  4. I do think that hard work pays off, but a I also think some people have to work harder than others to achieve the same thing, for any one (or more) of a variety of reasons.

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    1. True enough. Coming where/what I come from I can certainly agree that life is not fair. And I am still seeing others who are struggling. The point is to keep working at it, no matter what. I am just the kind of person who is likely to do things in spite of a situation... kind of like how I graduated with my bachelors degree just as quick as I could because my home life was something I needed out of and my mother was reminding me every day how stupid I was to even bother with college- all while working full time.
      We can't take obstacles as anything other than an experience and something to work around. It's not fair to rob the world of what we have to offer.

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  5. Of course hard work pays off, and you and your husband will enjoy a very fruitful career. Just do me one favor - Enjoy the journey!

    “Be Content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” – Lao Tzu

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    1. Thank you, JJ. You are so very right on this one. Sometimes as we work to get to a goal, we forget that where we are is already so far from where we have come.
      This has certainly been an interesting journey so far and I know I don't want it to end! It has been unexpected and wonderful in so many ways. :)

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  6. Great post!
    I was happy to see where you and your husband sit dwon and go over the budget...TOGETHER! I know so many couples that never talk about their budget and what needs/should/ and could be done. I have also seen so many that simply live day to day, with no desire or motivation to go any further than where they are. It's great to see a couple who have worked hard for what they have and are still working to get even more of what they want.
    Life is not fair and yes, some never do quite make it to the top, even with hard work. But I do believe that those who hard and in turn are gifted with great things and a good life, should be able to enjoy it!

    I wish you all the best! Maybe those "feelings" of change are a sign of a not-too-far-off move to Texas, as you have wanted! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you! ;-)

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  7. if you enter a dead end job that is hard...you would feel that way. You have to be able to see ahead and say, "Where is this job taking me?" If it is no where...then you are simply digging a ditch to dig a ditch...Don't be digging a ditch..be digging the panama canal.
    That's what you guys did..you dug the panama canal.

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  8. so so so so little control really.
    which is why Im able to just LET GO.

    xo

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