Yesterday I made an appointment with my primary care physician for a physical, I’m “I only need a physical every two years” old. I have been seeing my Dr. for a very long time and believe he genuinely cares about the well-being of his patients. That being written I am reminded of a conversation we had years ago and it is (was) the catalyst for a shift in the way I live.
Read MoreI’ve shared with y’all that I intend on buying a new (to me) / used car after we close on our new home. The avarice of my eye is a 2014 Audi A5 Coupe. I haven’t had a car payment in a long time and I’ve done a beautiful mind calculation on how much car I could afford with the shortest loan period.
Read MoreThe other day while having a discussion about Cash Rules Everything Around Me, CREAM get the money, dollar, dollar bill Y'all. It led to a familiar discussion that I’ve been having with greater than enough frequency lately, living souls being obsessed with making the greatest amount of money with the least possible effort.
I like money, but I’ve learned it cannot make you happy. In the words of the prolific rhymer Christopher George Latore Wallace, Mo Money Mo Problems. Also, I would sign up for a test to see if $500MM would indeed make me happy – it is a delicate duality to balance.
Read MoreOn Any Given Sunday, you might find me at Starbucks, watching the Sun beam in through the windows, creating dramatic light and shadow. The strong scent of coffee, the sweet scent of cake pops and the sound of music (at times too loud ;)
Read More"Your behavior is the key to taking control of your money, and your money is tied to your relationships."
This observation would have stayed in my journal however this week I've had pragmatic discussions with girls that are friends in different stages of "relating." One married, one single and one engaged. Issue(s) with money was the conversation starter for all three.
Read MoreI wrote an English paper some time ago, in it I discussed our social conditioning to go to school, get a job, get married, buy a house, have some kids, live happily ever after and [have our kids repeat.] I focused less on achieving the American Dream and more on getting a job and trading our time for money. The problem, at least I believed was our focus on finding jobs that would presumably provide us with a high income affording us the opportunity to take care of our family. My thoughts were confirmed during a brief conversation with a coworker.
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It’s Me … Mr.TramueL! Seems like forever since I left you without a strong post to step to. Bear with me on this one ‘cause I don’t know the point I’m trying to make. Random thoughts around my ex, un-employment and my future.
Of The Job Interview: Interviewed with Bank of America this week (Third interview in as many days) … a little history, I was a victim of “workforce reduction” two years ago this month. The new position to many would be considered a step backwards but hey I gotta eat, baby mama’s want child-support and kids want gifts.
Of The Ex: My ex-wife through all of our years together {total of 14 maybe, married 7 or 8 of them} who really remembers? Don’t answer & don’t judge me … anywho let’s call her “Chica” ‘cause her dad was Dominican and after I took my last name back she decided to use his (used her mama’s maiden name prior) but I digress. Anywho, Chica tends to remember our wedding day and sends text messages saying “Happy Anniversary” I guess you would have to understand her personality to understand why, sure there is some sarcasm there but secretly she still desires me, I mean who wouldn’t? I’m an incredibly sexy man. J/K ☚*Disclaimer just in case she ever reads this, but we all know the truth. Wink. WInk. Blank Stare.*
You have questions: “Mr.TramueL? What does this have to do with the title of your post.” Well I have answers … The recruiter, the interviewers all made a subtle hint at the variance in salary from my previous position with the bank to the max pay for the position applied, my “read”, they wanted some explanation why I wanted to work in their department. So I gave the corporate “build a foundation” speech. I looked over at one of the women during the interview and she was salivating .. I guess it was what she wanted to hear or it could have been my crisp white shirt with my blue tie & my Austin Reed suit. *Shout out to three buttons, back vents & Euro cut*
It resonated with me, the question of money, it seems for the sake of making a living we forget to live. I thought being a good husband meant working like a rant mule so that we could have “things” … the best things in life aren’t things. Chica seemed to want the best of both worlds, She said: “Go pick up that bail of hay negro & afterwards let’s go on a trip to Africa.” I said: (Nothing) But I thought … never allow your sense of self to become associated with your sense of a job. If your job vanishes, your self doesn’t. The happiest time of my life has been during this period of unemployment, I’ve been able to spend more time with my family immediate and extended, been able to reveal some hidden passions and get serious about my health, my relationship with Capital G’dizzle, His Son & their Homie the Holy Ghost. There are plenty of folk whom have found the acquisition of wealth only a change, not an end of miseries. “Mo Money, Mo Problems”
Don’t cry for me Argentina this isn’t a nostalgia piece about my ex or the past but a segway into my future, this is about lessons learned and carrying them forward.
Of My Future: Relaxed in Love.
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. Ecclesiastes 5:10 NASB
Mr. “She remembers our anniversary, I remember our divorcesary” TramueL
