Taking the First Step

Stood alone on a mountain top, Starin out at the great divide I could go east, I could go west, It was all up to me to decide Just then I saw a young hawk flyin' And my soul began to rise And pretty soon My heart was singin' - Bob Seger (Roll Me Away)

A few months ago, I decided that I was tired of the status quo in my life. Here I am, in my early thirties, and I'm not exactly happy with where I am at. I've got a significant amount of student debt. I think about taking a vacation and get anxious because I don't want to have to put it all on credit cards. Money gives me anxiety, plain and simple. Still, there is a quality of life that I want to achieve. Some of it is materialistic, I admit. There are things that I want to have. More importantly, there is a lifestyle that I want to achieve so that I can enjoy my time and my family. I want to explore more than the five-mile stretch of highway between my one-bedroom apartment and my corporate cube-farm. I grew up in a town where people generally had a lot of money. My grandfather was a doctor and many of his friends were doctors. I lived on the less affluent side of town and knew we weren't as well off as many of my friends. My family didn't go to Mexico, Hawaii, or the Caribbean for spring break. We didn't get to go to Europe over the summer. I rode my bicycle to school, even in high school after many classmates had their own cars. My childhood was not miserable. I had a loving family, good friends, and a supportive community. At this point in my life, though, I could barely afford to buy a house and live there. I still can't afford to take exotic vacations, and I worry about my money. I'm only a little past living paycheck to paycheck, but it wouldn't take much to upset that apple cart. I don't remember the exact moment, day, or time when I made the decision. Like Seger, standing on the mountain top, I realized that I could go east or west and it was my decision. One way was the path of the status quo in my life, which feels much like mediocrity. The other way is the path that will be an adventure. And so it is that I decided to become a Millionaire. This blog is the story of my journey, in real time.