And it is one of those sweet and blissful things... but only once one has attained it. Doing that, as you may have guessed, doesn't always come easily. However, I do believe that I am slowly on my way to gaining the freedom I have been seeking. Lesee where to start...
I had finished reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad and it got me thinking. After a good amount of time, I finally arrived at a question for myself: why did I want to get so much money? Well, money would give me the opportunity to not work. Or, at least to not immediately worry about having a job all of the time. Again, why did I not want to work? Hmm... because I gained free time? Yes, exactly. And suddenly, once I came to that realization, I knew exactly what I wanted and had a bit of an idea of how to get it. Money was part of it.
A quick term I'mma throw out: time affluent. According to some site--which was then referenced on one of my fav sites: Lifehacker--there are two different kinds of "affluent" people in the world. There are those who are affluent in the more common way, with money, and those who are affluent in time (though they usually have a good amount of money themselves). But yeah, the second kind of affluent is exactly what I want. I don't care about having nice things per se, but the thing I want most is time. So, as I continued to think about it, what comes with free time would be freedom. Traveling has always been one of my favorite things to do, so what if I had the affluency (I'm quite sure that I'm making words up here) in both money--and more importantly--time to just be traveling almost all of the time? It would be just what I had always wanted.
Still, the thing that's great about such "freedom" is that I am able to work whether or not I am making any sort of income. We all know that jobs can be one hell of a burden, something I don't want, but what if you didn't need the job? Well, you wouldn't necessarily be so worried about losing it. ... meaning that if you did lose it no big deal. Even more interesting, though, is that you would most likely search out jobs which you loved, because--let's face it--if you didn't have to work, it would be quite dumb to work doing something you didn't like.
So as of now, I am facing two major roadblocks on my way to "freedom." One is the money aspect, which will hopefully help me with getting the free time thing down. The other is a little less obvious. Think for a second... you know that you know me...
That's right: me.
Like I've mentioned before (um, I think), my antisocial skills and extreme fear in some situations render me incapable of achieving this freedom I want. But, there is one ridiculously easy thing I can do to overcome this problem: just rid myself of fear and get some of those "fabled" skillz (the 'z' means that it's.. better). Now that's a simplification of the process--how the hell do you get rid of fear?--but sometimes the hardest things can be solved by simple solutions. At least that's what I'm hoping. I do have to say that I have begun to understand better how to do this and, as of late, I have been acting...
Last weekend I went home for seemingly no reason at all. It was actually one of my on-the-spot decisions, meaning that it wasn't thought through at all--which for me is good. However, I was given a problem, as I would have nothing to do once I did get back home. I mean, I wanted to hang with Alex (which I did ^^) but had no idea of what else. Sit on my bed with my laptop for a day and a half? No thanks, I'll pass. I had already done that for the majority of winter break anyways. So instead, about a night or two before I left, a quick question ran through my head: who did I know that was close to home with whom I could "hang"? Bam! Two seconds later I had my answer. Little did I know that it would work out so well (after abusing my lying privileges and spending ten bucks on gas).
Friday I went home with the Indy--also known as Sahil--and had a relatively good ride. Kinda weird how we're still friends after all the shit, but, whatev. That's for another post. But yeah, got home and said hi to my parents who were totally surprised. I never got around to telling them that I was returning ^^; They didn't much mind (specially my dad, he just loves me -_-).
Right, Friday night. That basically ended up being me and my A-man hanging at home. Chillaxing. We were both pretty tired but still had a great time. Too bad we didn't get to see that movie together. Which movie do I speak of? Well... just gimme a sec!
Saturday morning I went to the Auto Show in DC. The night before I had agreed to go with my parents--mainly because it'd get me on their good side and let me go out that night (I had a plan!)--but it turned out to be pretty cool. Bunch of cars (obviously) but my favorites, as always, were the concept cars. They all look so futuristic and the fact that we could be driving them in a few years is soooooo cool. But yeah, overall, good. And, although I wouldn't call myself a car-lover, there are some cars that I like seeing. Mmmm... S2000. Er, *cleans drool* there. Sorry that you had to see that.
We--me and my parents--were all pretty hungry, not to mention tired, by the end of it so we decided to grab some Chinese food down at Chinatown(!). That was good ^_^ Oh, and during that I chatted with my parents about the movie I wanted to see. Which we did end up watching. Which you should watch too, cause it's scrumptulescent. No, really, go. It's called El Laberinto Del Fauno (or Pan's Labyrinth for you lazy non-Spanish-speakers).
After the movie it was late. Well, late just cause I had gotten up so early and done so much (in comparison to my usual weekends). And... damn this post is getting long and it's kinda late. So I'mma finish it later. This seems as good of a stopping point as any. ^^ Don't worry, there is a point to all this seemingly useless babbling. It's coming up next. Just sorta hang around 'til then.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Wii!!
Um, so I beat Zelda. Hmm? Oh, right.
Well, first off, I got a Wii. Yeah, that does explain the title. Go figure.
I was moping about, just, you know, existing at home one humble day when John gave me a call. He tells me, "Hey Gabe, I'm down here at Tysons at the EB Games and they have the Wii." Short pause there. Then I say, "Buy it." Simply, as if there truly shouldn't be any doubt to it. And, obviously, we all know that there shouldn't have been. Thus, a few hours later, having driven to Best Buy to get a copy of Twilight Princess, I was in business. And now, a week later, I have beaten the game. Put in a measly 30+ hours.
I agree, it did take me a while ^^; But "eating" and other stuff got in the way.
Seriously though, I was in a frenzy to beat the game. Although, ideally for me, I would have done a few more sidequests and the sort, but John and Ted watched me play about fifteen hours of the game; I would have felt guilty had I spent more time wasting their lives away. It was pretty funny. The two of them watching me play a video game. They were in a way "backseat gamers," minus the backseat. That did work out pretty well, though, since Zelda can be a multiplayer game, with all 'em puzzles and such. And I have to say, there were a bunch of them. And some of them were near impossible to figure out, as even with the three of us we still had trouble. But, that's what made it so infuriatingly good.. mmmm.
One complaint, however: bosses were too easy. For the most part that is. Sure, in the beginning--you only start with three hearts and heart pieces are slightly hard to find--enemies can be a toughy (those... shadow beings or whatever they're called), but they just get easier. Then again, I am quite good at the game... *cough* ^^;
Favorite Dungeon: Temple of Time (Mostly because of the cut scene where you unlock it...)
Favorite Hidden Skill: Mortal Draw (This move is just too good)
Favorite Item: Spinner(!!!)
Well, first off, I got a Wii. Yeah, that does explain the title. Go figure.
I was moping about, just, you know, existing at home one humble day when John gave me a call. He tells me, "Hey Gabe, I'm down here at Tysons at the EB Games and they have the Wii." Short pause there. Then I say, "Buy it." Simply, as if there truly shouldn't be any doubt to it. And, obviously, we all know that there shouldn't have been. Thus, a few hours later, having driven to Best Buy to get a copy of Twilight Princess, I was in business. And now, a week later, I have beaten the game. Put in a measly 30+ hours.
I agree, it did take me a while ^^; But "eating" and other stuff got in the way.
Seriously though, I was in a frenzy to beat the game. Although, ideally for me, I would have done a few more sidequests and the sort, but John and Ted watched me play about fifteen hours of the game; I would have felt guilty had I spent more time wasting their lives away. It was pretty funny. The two of them watching me play a video game. They were in a way "backseat gamers," minus the backseat. That did work out pretty well, though, since Zelda can be a multiplayer game, with all 'em puzzles and such. And I have to say, there were a bunch of them. And some of them were near impossible to figure out, as even with the three of us we still had trouble. But, that's what made it so infuriatingly good.. mmmm.
One complaint, however: bosses were too easy. For the most part that is. Sure, in the beginning--you only start with three hearts and heart pieces are slightly hard to find--enemies can be a toughy (those... shadow beings or whatever they're called), but they just get easier. Then again, I am quite good at the game... *cough* ^^;
Favorite Dungeon: Temple of Time (Mostly because of the cut scene where you unlock it...)
Favorite Hidden Skill: Mortal Draw (This move is just too good)
Favorite Item: Spinner(!!!)
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
The Secret to Wealth
A few days ago (*edit* now a few weeks ago) my dad gave me quite an interesting book to read titled Rich Dad, Poor Dad. And I am now done.
I have to say, wow, it is a great book. It really does tell you the secret that the wealthy have which they use--not to mention abuse--on a regular basis. I have been inspired! *cue chorus of angels* Yeah, it's that life-changing (if you are open-minded and actually willing to change your life actively that is).
While the book isn't written by JK Rowling--going for popularity there...--or by Shakespeare, it does have the ideas capable of creating a great new lifestyle. And obviously, I would like to do this. Basically, what the rich do, which those in the middle class and lower classes do not, is buy assets (the others buy many more liabilities and very few, if any, assets). Yup, it's that simple. Well then, what the hell is an asset? This is also pretty simple: anything that makes you money without you having to constantly be there (so, no, your job doesn't count). And on the reverse side of this coin are liabilities. Those are the things we buy which slowly put us into debt; cars, houses, etc.
As of now, I am pretty much a blank slate. While all my life I have been taught--by my parents, in school, society really--that getting a good education then a job would lead me to have a wealthy--and happy--life, obviously that is not 100% true. What the author of the book suggests is to become well-educated in money. And that includes the making of money. But even more importantly, it includes knowing how to make money work for you, which is more or less what an asset is. You spend money to buy this asset, and have it make money for you. Whether you bought a house you rent out, or some stocks which have gained value over time, it doesn't matter as long as you are making money.
So now the obvious thing for me to do is go out and learn as much as I can, while hopefully learning some through the acquiring of assets. As of now, I plan to speak with Vince, the most financially literate of my friends, to help me out in this process. And I hope to slowly grow those assets and be able to accomplish my ultimate goal (with money that is): not having to worry about whether or not I have a job or worry about how much said job pays. Wouldn't that be true freedom?
Now, on another note, though still related to the book. See, as I read one section, in which the author talked about overcoming fear (hehe, sounds like one of those self-help books...), I got to thinking about my life. Namely the fact that I am deathly afraid--in a subconscious sort of way--of letting people know what I really think of them. If you think about it, it's something that is rarely discussed between any two people, if ever at all. But yeah, because of this, I tend to avoid people I get along with and I don't act like the person I really am. Not only that, but I'll never be the first to tell somebody I like them, they'll have to do it or it'll most likely never get done. ... I really need to do something about that.
Gabe: A Life Lesson Around Every Corner!
I have to say, wow, it is a great book. It really does tell you the secret that the wealthy have which they use--not to mention abuse--on a regular basis. I have been inspired! *cue chorus of angels* Yeah, it's that life-changing (if you are open-minded and actually willing to change your life actively that is).
While the book isn't written by JK Rowling--going for popularity there...--or by Shakespeare, it does have the ideas capable of creating a great new lifestyle. And obviously, I would like to do this. Basically, what the rich do, which those in the middle class and lower classes do not, is buy assets (the others buy many more liabilities and very few, if any, assets). Yup, it's that simple. Well then, what the hell is an asset? This is also pretty simple: anything that makes you money without you having to constantly be there (so, no, your job doesn't count). And on the reverse side of this coin are liabilities. Those are the things we buy which slowly put us into debt; cars, houses, etc.
As of now, I am pretty much a blank slate. While all my life I have been taught--by my parents, in school, society really--that getting a good education then a job would lead me to have a wealthy--and happy--life, obviously that is not 100% true. What the author of the book suggests is to become well-educated in money. And that includes the making of money. But even more importantly, it includes knowing how to make money work for you, which is more or less what an asset is. You spend money to buy this asset, and have it make money for you. Whether you bought a house you rent out, or some stocks which have gained value over time, it doesn't matter as long as you are making money.
So now the obvious thing for me to do is go out and learn as much as I can, while hopefully learning some through the acquiring of assets. As of now, I plan to speak with Vince, the most financially literate of my friends, to help me out in this process. And I hope to slowly grow those assets and be able to accomplish my ultimate goal (with money that is): not having to worry about whether or not I have a job or worry about how much said job pays. Wouldn't that be true freedom?
Now, on another note, though still related to the book. See, as I read one section, in which the author talked about overcoming fear (hehe, sounds like one of those self-help books...), I got to thinking about my life. Namely the fact that I am deathly afraid--in a subconscious sort of way--of letting people know what I really think of them. If you think about it, it's something that is rarely discussed between any two people, if ever at all. But yeah, because of this, I tend to avoid people I get along with and I don't act like the person I really am. Not only that, but I'll never be the first to tell somebody I like them, they'll have to do it or it'll most likely never get done. ... I really need to do something about that.
Gabe: A Life Lesson Around Every Corner!
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