Answer To A Challenge Made By Tim Ferriss

Tim Ferriss has an interesting challenge at his blog.  You can win a Shaun of the Dead Figurine or some first edition books of his.   He wants you to imagine what you would do with your days if you retired early.  The idea being that if you don’t know what you would do you probably aren’t ready or motivated.

His post was actually the impetus for this blog where I realized if I don’t change, I won’t have a retirement much less and early retirement.

So for his contest, which I don’t expect to win, I posted this in the comment section.  I come off as a whiner but this is what I feel now.  Except for plastering my picture on here and giving my full name, I will be brutally honest about my process.  Hopefully that honesty will open my eyes to make the changes I want.

Superbowl weekend was an interesting weekend to start the challenge.  I reflected a bit as I was waiting for a client.  I have been working since I was 13.

My Dad told me I could work if I kept my grades up but he said very clearly, “The day you start working, you don’t stop until you die.”  A little ominous eh?

But I have worked since then and I didn’t get to have much fun.  I sacrificed, I thought, “then” for “now”.  But “now” never materialized.  I am still working and never got ahead like I thought I would.  I eventually used work as a shield to miss social events that might be uncomfortable because I didn’t learn the social lessons most do in their teens. I learned roles at work and school, getting along better with the adults usually.  And though many say I have charisma, I feel I am just playing a role, fooling them like others.

If I were to retire now, I would spend time with family and friends.  I enjoyed the Superbowl with my Dad today and I enjoyed watching the UFC with friends yesterday.

I am in my mid 30’s and had very few close friends that I thought I could count on until now. Finally in these last few years I have relaxed a bit. I do what I can to be social but work hasn’t gotten harder and I find myself saying no more often than yes to either work or save money.

I really like to help people.  Though I feel I haven’t got my own life questions answered many come to me for my thoughts.  My day would be filled with being with friends and family laughing and enjoying our time together, possibly even helping them surmount their tough times.

And in between I would work on one of those many great ideas I have but can’t seem to find the time to do.