Retired at 27 - Bankrupt at 32
Quite the Smooth One
I thought I was being brave
Until the exact moment I found out
What a short sighted decision that really was
Bankruptcy Day
By the time I arrived at my own bankruptcy
It was a smooth and very forgiving process
When I did mine, the money was fully discharged
Shortly after that, the procedure became more difficult
People who declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy after me..
They have to repay that debt back later in their lives
At one point all of the calling from creditors goes quiet
Nonstop calling - that is the earmark of the utter lunacy
In my big wash-out I was relieved of $77,000 debt
It was kind of clever how I put that debt together
I didn't really buy anything but free time for me
During that time I didn't do much but find myself
Rotating debt means borrowing money to pay others
Going bankrupt in a way is like going to professional therapy
If you tell anyone about it they might look at you in a shaming way
Then if you tell someone else about it they might say, "Awesome!!"
Once I got past the reality of having pushed off the reality of adulting
Once I secured the lawyer who advised my collection of documents
Once I relocated myself back to living with my grandfather
Once I had advised all of my friends to the changes
After that, things were really easy - even pleasant
I made a serious deal with Grampa and honored it
He was happy for the companionship and spirit
My room and the small jobs were waiting for me
When bankruptcy day came - it felt big for me
For everyone else it was like any other day
Show up in Court - pay the parking meter
Place all metal items in the dish
Pay the lawyer - Submit forms
Yes your honor - no your honor
Keep records - Don't look back
Try to do better in the future
I was in and out of there
In less than 40 minutes
Revolving debt gets ya
Murphy's Law
I didn't realize I was driving into another time zone for the final-final court session
I was an hour late for the meeting - real smart - scared the bejeezus out of myself
But they let me slide - if that was the date of a serious triathlon I'd have blown it
If that was the moment of military extraction I definitely would have blown it
It was more like missing my own birthday - it continued when I got there
Things are funny like that - I mention it because training can be like that
A person can become focused on a thing only to miss a different thing
Keeping a light grip on life - perhaps something I'm a little too good at
Isn't that a little early to be going bankrupt
In April 2004 I was just about to celebrate my 32nd birthday
What a glorious time of life that was, and I was in great shape
My bankruptcy wasn't a riches to rags story or anything profound
I simply underestimated what it would take to "have my own business"
Also I miscalculated what it would take to keep my computers running
There's no support staff in a 1-man operation and that wipes people out
My actual point is that I found the will and means toward authorship much later
If only I'd have put myself onto a consistent and continuous track - decades earlier
There's no point pining over it - I was over my head and unable to see where I was
For years I was trying to organize web development functions beyond my skill level
I didn't have a marketing plan and I wasn't chasing my dreams or a specific passion
After 20 years - What has changed?
Easy - my early career was the era before my life-changing era of becoming a father
This was such an impact because I could finally take myself and my health seriously
What's so big about becoming a father? Here I can share that easily in one sentence
Before I was a father I drank soda all the time - as a father, my son is banned from it
Pull back the camera - we do lots of self destructive things we'd disallow for children
Age 32 vs. Age 52
At 18 I was a beautiful disaster
At 32 I was in best shape of my life
At 52 I do okay with a different starter set
All phases of my life including parenting were life-changing to say the least
We might not see it at the time - it's clear to me today - things happen first
Later those things - become the bedrock - of what we do - times after that
In other words my things did finally build on top of my other things
It's a rather inevitable and indisputable thing to view from hindsight
But it doesn't just happen like that accidentally - it has to be guided
Thoughts are manifestations - in time we do become - what we think
Evaluating the nature of our own thoughts is about our own missions
I have not been to any hospital since I was 26
That means I've kept myself healthy for over 26 years
It just took me 26 years to grow up and learn how to do that
It's been a mission for me to retain my health in my middle age
Think for a minute - what is your middle?
If you are only thinking you'll live to age 60
That would mean that 20-40 is your "middle" age
Personally I hypothesize that I can live to my 100th birthday
That being the case, the years between 33-67 are my midway
How proud am I for retaining my health & vitality?
I am very proud - what's nice is not relying on others
When it comes to matters of my own personal health
There are a lot of people who accept things I do not accept
People think I'm splitting hairs but honestly that's where I win it!
There is much in me that was not present in my early or younger days
I may not be in that youthful type condition with tight and supple skin but..
My cooking rocks, my smile is genuine and I understand holistic health well
In me is a can-do attitude but it's not a fake one - first I learn, then I can - do
Your Body is Your Soul's Mate
Do you believe me about this? Do you recognize what a pivotal idea this is?
The two of you are inseparable - Please do not attempt to challenge the assertion
At this time of my life I find I've become an incredible cook, swimmer, and decent yogi
If we were to have a chat I think you'd find I do my best to make time for what you say
There were times in my life I was too busy to care but I changed how I do scheduling
Swimming Makes Anyone a Real Yogi
Controlled breathing in the pool is a very big deal -all swimmers are yogis. We have to be!
After Bankruptcy
Things are different - what can I say? It made me want to be independent & pay with cash
