I was once invited to a gathering of financial independence enthusiasts near me. I don’t remember the reason I couldn’t go, but I said, I’ll go next time. This was years ago and there hasn’t been another gathering.
YOLO
You only live once and your situation, as with those around you, is constantly changing. As a result, everything you do is in some way a once is a lifetime opportunity. Sure you’ve tried Lucky Charms, but each time you have it is different. Maybe today you found it pairs well with raw goat milk. Or last time you didn’t taste it because you were stressed out from work.
Just because you can’t make something today doesn’t mean it is gone forever. Taylor Swift will tour again. But she might not dress the same or sing the same songs. Maybe she’ll be married. Who knows? It will be different though.
But…
What’s holding you back? I’ve heard a lot of people say,
“I was going to [do this thing] but then covid happened.”
Well, you heard it here first: covid is over, so you now have permission to go do that thing.
Opportunity Costs
I know it’s not that simple. You have to take into consideration the time and money it takes to do that. Well that’s what this entire newsletter is about. You have to find your own optimal point within your constraints.
As a caution again YOLO I will tell of the story Into Thin Air about the 1996 climbing season at Everest. The mountain was already pretty commercialized at this point and there were lots of people that wanted to get to the top. They spent weeks at the various camps along the mountain preparing for the final push. But for the final one you only get one shot and it could be halted by numerous reasons. The guides set a predetermined turnaround time to stay safe, but didn’t stick to it and ended up trapped by a blizzard and died. This is a case of wanting something so badly at the exclusion of all else, even oxygen was limited, which definitely contributed to lack of clear thinking.
Conclusion
Everything has a cost to it, so you have to strike the right balance. Take this as your notice to assess some things you’ve been wanted to do but have been putting off.
When I was in high school I attended a class at community college and had to do a write up on a Yung Joc’s hit song. Well, there’s a verse that may be relevant, so I’ll leave you with that.
Verse number two, do the damn thing