It happened. Today!
What I've been waiting for all these years of work . . . really over 50 years . . . happened today. I got my first Social Security check. Yep! Wow.
Some said they'd run out of money before I ever got my check. They were wrong. Of course, they've been wrong about so many different things! Most don't believe the glass is half-full. Many more think that it is half-empty. In fact, still some it is not only half-empty, but it is evaporating by the second.
I always believed. I believed the glass is much more than half-full. If it was only half-full it was because I made some stupid decisions in my life that spilled out some of the water. The more I focused on being a good leader the more I saw the glass filling up. Funny, isn't it? What we sew we reap!
Now at 66 when I'm getting my first check and watching my wife get ready to retire in the next three weeks, I believe the glass will be overflowing! Together, we'll be able to do the really important things in life.
Family. Daily devotions. Prayer. More prayers. Focus on each other. Focus on friends. More focus on family. I'll still do things in my favorite pastime for the past 40 years - FRANCHISING. This time, however, with MK by my side as my partner in all things. Our focus is doing things together.
I learned so much from her. She was a wonderful financial investor in her life. Lived WAY beneath her means. She didn't have kids but always her nephews and nieces fave aunt. Spoiled them . . . but kept a strong focus on saving money and investing money. Now, that I am having a much clearer understanding of life, love, money and priorities . . . I hope I can help my 3 kids understand what took me so long to understand. All what seems like the little things that are actually the BIG things. Such as:
The power of a 401k. The power of a good investment partner. The power of goal setting - with WRITTEN goals. The power of listening to a great leader and focusing on becoming a great leader - in every phase of your life. The power of truth. The power of ethics. The power of never being prejudiced of anyone, of anything, of any race. The power of the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5:
Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[b] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Last weekend MK and I had a chance to have a Zoom call with a friend of mine who is incarcerated. He made a mistake. Huge mistake. A mistake that he will have paid for dearly for over six years. A mistake that will possibly affect his chances of employment in a field that he was excellent in. I hope not.
So what is there about this first Social Security check? It really has nothing to do with money. It has nothing to do with the years worked or the age on my drivers' license. It has more to do with getting to the point of one's life where one has been so blessed that they are ready to graduate from what they've done and do their next assignment.
With MK on one hand, God on the other hand, I can't wait for the next steps. I am glad, however, that something is going into the bank account while we take the next challenges!
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