2009 - will this be your year?

Hi gang

Ok - lets cut the bullshit.

I don't have a job. I have a crap-load of debt to pay off.
I can just manage to pay my Internet access before the end of the month.

Don't feel sorry for me - I'm an idiot. I have been, for a farking long time (just ask my kids)

Well, today, it was so damn hot here, that I went for a swim in our pool. I sincerely apologise to everyone who has gone off to work today - that I can find time to go for a swim. Crap, yes I know.

I am one of those who try to work for myself, and its not always easy, and most of the time, its a pain in the ass, and there's not a lot of money attached to it, but its something I need to do.

But I just wanted to let you know that my first thought was: "I want to do this everyday for the rest of my life"

What do you want to do everyday for the rest of your life?

I have a few things up my sleeve, and will continue to work on them.

But my primary thought was, "Gee, if I could just work at home, without all the stress and strife, and not battle the daily commute, but be able to give something back to the world-wide community.... and earn a dollar at the same time - wouldn't that be something?"

Life isn't all about earning as much money as possible.

Some folks will say it is - but really, can the CEO of the Macquarie Bank really spend all the money he is paid? I doubt it. How many things can you buy, and the bigger question is, even if you can afford to buy all those things, how many things can you use?

It might be nice to have an apartment in the Maldives, a chalet in the Swiss Alps, a hideaway in some remote corner of some forgotten continent. Does having those things make you happy?

Does eating in a fancy restaurant make you a better person than me?

No.

I don't know how these people think, but if I had those things / opportunities? Would that make me happy? No.

My wife and I were given vouchers to dine at a posh French restaurant a few months ago. Our verdict? Posh, smosh. Rubbish! Food was passable at best, service was rubbish, seating arrangements were ridiculous, the list goes on. I have no idea what the total cost was, but whatever it was, it was too much. And for goodness sake, this was in Brisbane of all places, not London, not Paris, not even Sydney for goodness sake. We will not be going back there.

So, even given insane amounts of money to spend, it seems that just being seen is more important than anything else, regardless of venue, food, service.

The ones who earn obscene amounts of money for their day job - I don't know how they feel about themselves, but given our experience with our posh night out, I'd rather stay at home.

All I know is this:

for me, to be happy, is to have enough money to:

1. pay the bills (we all want that)

2. be able to go to the local bottle shop and buy a couple of bottles of wine without worrying about that dreaded "transaction declined" message

3. to be able to leave/give something to my children, so they can have a quality of life that is somewhat shielded from this apparent "global financial crisis".

With all due respect, and whatever you read in the media, I firmly believe this GFC has been "manufactured". It has happened before, and it will happen again. Do the names "Morgan" and "Rothschild" and "Rockefeller" mean anything to you? Perhaps a trip to the library might be in order..... :)

Anyway, from one perspective, this has been an inward looking post.

From another, its a wake-up call to you all.

To hell with all the nay-sayers, the doubters, the dream-stealers who constantly bring you down. To hell with them.

If you want to do something, you just go and do it, regardless.

I applaud you, and wish you all the very best!

And to my children - kids, I love you more than words can express. Take life by the horns, shake it and say "I am the king/queen of my destiny. I may fall down, but I will get up again. I will never be defeated by those who think otherwise."

Say "I am who I am - my life has purpose and meaning - do not detract that from me."

If you do this, you will win - every, single, time.

I love you.

Dad