The Day I Gave Away A Million Dollars.
Posted on Apr 23, 2011 | 9 comments
June 14th, 2010. This was the day I gave away a million dollars.
This is the also the day Heidi and I decided we were going to quit our jobs and travel the world. The retirement plan, the idea of a big house on the hill, the notion of a plush, rainy day fund all got thrown out with the trash. By choosing not to keep our 9-5 salary jobs for the next 25 years we had chosen to just give away a million dollars. The future was now unwritten.
But it doesn't feel like I gave up a million bucks, does it? It doesn't feel like it would if I went to Vegas and dropped a million on a hand of blackjack and got dealt a pair of 2's. It doesn't feel scary or risky or like I am losing something. And you know why?
Because I am not losing anything. This is not Vegas. There is no gamble. There is just life. The future was never written.
When you gamble, you risk losing money you have (assuming you haven't gone off the deep end and hit up Visa for a huge cash advance). But I never had a million dollars, all I had was the idea of a million dollars, the possibility of a million dollars. There was only the illusion of financial security, nothing more.
And for all of you planning on the future, that is all you have as well. There is no security in the future. How could there be? You don't know what is going to happen.
How many of you ever thought you were going to die in a plane crash?
We are wrong about the future every day. How can there be security in it?
In an ongoing debate with a friend of mine, he argues that people focus on minimizing risk in life rather than maximizing rewards and so they end up taking the safe, established path. I am not sure this is so. I don't think people play the risk/reward game much. I think it is much more simple. I think people are creatures of habit, and habits are hard to break. You do something long enough, it is very hard to imagine doing anything else. But if you can, imagine this:
Imagine waking up tomorrow and doing whatever you wanted with your family. It could be anywhere. Doing anything. Imagine working on what you love while the kids are sound asleep after a full day with the family. Imagine the freedom and the possibility. Imagine living your life in the present and not having to worry so much about securing a life 20-30 years from now.
What's that worth?
Is it worth giving up the possibility of a million dollars?
Is it worth giving up the illusion of security?
Is it worth breaking a few challenging habits that you never wanted in the first place?
For me it is.
Now . . . .
What about YOU?
Enjoy This Post? Stay Connected With Us.
Via Email: Click Here | Via RSS: Click Here
On Facebook: Click Here | On Twitter: Click Here
Great post!
"Imagine living your life in the present and not having to worry so much about securing a life 20-30 years from now"
I think this sums up the post perfectly. So many times I think we are trading in our precious time now for a perceived pay off later. If we just work really hard now, then we can take a long vacation. If I just put in a few more years at my job, then I'll get a big pension.
There's a million of these kinds of thoughts. I'm not saying it's not good to prepare for the future. It just needs to be balanced with enjoying the present.
Security is an illusion. The faster you can recognize that, the more quickly you can let go and enjoy whatever life throws at you.
Sean recently posted..The Wyland Principle
Thanks Sean! Obviously I agree. Of course we plan for the future, but there is more than 1 way to do that. Get Creative. Who knows what the future holds, might at well enjoy the present.
Hello Justin,
Never thought about that idea....giving up a million dollars just so you could travel! I think with us traveling and sharing our journey we will gain more than a million dollars with all the of the experiences we will see along the way!
Cheers
Lisa
Lisa Wood recently posted..Road Trip Home
Yep. That's pretty much how I see it too. For me, money isn't as valuable as experience.
All the Best Lisa!
"In an ongoing debate with a friend of mine, he argues that people focus on minimizing risk in life rather than maximizing rewards and so they end up taking the safe, established path"
This hits home! As I was doing my 3 mile run today with my dog, while praying and hoping not to get runover by cars, I was thinking to myself something along this very same topic. Why am I so afraid to lose!?!? I am more afraid to lose than excited to win?!?! What is wrong with me!? I doubt I'm the only one like this. I am not taking chances because I'm coming up with all these reasons why I am going to fail.
Anyway, I think your friend is right and I can't be the only one feeling like this. Great article, keep them coming!
You got it EDDY! You can't win if you're afraid to lose. Have faith and stay the course. Hard work and determination will win out in the end.
Justin
There are some interesting studies on this. At least in the Westernized world (I'm unaware of valid studies in other parts of the world), people are extremely risk averse. Giving up a dollar today for a guaranteed return of two dollars in a year is something that most people simply will not do, all lottery statistics to the contrary. Letting go of an old couch before a new one is already at the front door is extremely rare behavior.
We fight MUCH harder to keep/protect what we already have than to get a much higher guaranteed return (even one that we firmly believe will make us happier and better off) in the future. Whatever our status quo is, whether it's $20,000 a year, $200,000 a year, or 20 years of travel, keeping what we currently have overrides any/all desire to change. (which is why systems to force particular actions--such as automatic savings deductions or selling your car--are an important part of any plan to effect permanent change--you can't drive a car you don't have, you *have* to take the bus or ride your bike).
The old story of the monkey who won't let go of a fistful of peanuts inside a gourd so he can get away from the trap is as true for humans as for monkeys.
The scientists studying this theorize that it is human nature (i.e., genetic, not learned, behavior). But again, I don't know how much study has been done outside of Westernized societies.
My point here is, there is nothing *wrong* with you. What you do is a normal, perhaps genetic, part of human behavior. By recognizing it, you can take steps to change it or combat it. We are thinking beings. Genetically programmed behavior that we recognize as not helpful to modern life can be modified, although it can be very difficult (just witness how much sugar we eat in Western diets, even though we KNOW it's probably worse for our bodies than nicotine and tar).
I had never thought about the trade off of traveling vs. 'having a million dollars' - I guess in reality you wouldn't actually 'have' that money - it would just be used to keep your lifestyle going. Smart move to trade it in for travel and wherever travel will then take you. I think it is hard, for Americans especially, to let go of the idea of 'control' over our lives (which we really don't have anyways). That somehow, not living the 'American dream' is dangerous, when in fact, it isn't! It is really freeing, allowing you to be shaped by experience and people and not confined by materialism and dreams of others. In the end, that seems much more healthy (to be shaped by people and experience) than things - which can be dangerous.
Exciting things, exciting times! Thank you for the posts and ideas to ponder.
The only security we really have is our capability to adapt. Nothing stays the same, so being open and adaptable is key. You've already started by blogging, researching and getting ready to embark on this journey. In fact, you may just be gaining more 'security' than you ever thought by delving into this online world and this global world.