Remembering the Why!

A tall, handsome figure walks across screen.

The camera pans to the figure’s face – youthful and optimistic, the face breaks into a welcoming smile.

Oh hello, it’s you again.

Thanks for popping by. How are you? I hope you had a good day.

Did you happen to catch the “State of Origin” last night? I certainly did, I missed the regular Wednesday blog schedule cos of it!

(To the uninitiated, rugby league is a sport whereby 13 big, grown men proceed to sprint at 13 other big, grown men for 80 minutes pretending to carry an oval shaped ball past a marked line. These other big, grown men have to try and stop them using their bare hands)… ha ha right, pull the other one… huh? You weren’t joking? WTF?

And what a game it was! The big hits, the big scores and the big plays all contributed to making it a great night out and one to remember.

But you know – I almost didn’t make it.

I was so caught up with ticking off my nightly checklist that I missed the bigger picture.

Catching up and having a great night out with friends.

You see, I forgot about my “why”.

Why am I working after a long day at the office?

Why am I researching real estate wayyyy past my bed-time?

Why am I reading up investment ideas when the latest Netflix show is calling?

Because of FIRE.

Financial Independence, Retire Early.

Yep – I want to be working, to be researching, to be reading so that I can step off the rat race early and have the time to enjoy what I want to be doing.

And what would you enjoy doing TheFrugalSamurai? 

Well, a fun night with my friends during the week without feeling guilt… yeah, do you see where I am going with this?

So many of us who are working, are hustling, are grinding – we dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to the project.

We do this because of our “why’s”.

I’ll work hard now so I can retire early and spend time with my friends.

I’ll climb the corporate ladder so I can look good and feel better about myself.

I’m dedicating myself to my business so I will provide a better future for my children.

Whatever your “why”, harness it – because it’s yours.

But sometimes, we lose sight of the “why” – like how I did last night.

I forgot that the reason I’m working hard is so that I can spend time with my friends and the people I care about whenever I want.

But what’s the point when you reach your destination and you don’t have any one there waiting for you?

What’s the point of climbing the corporate ladder when you’ve burned so many bridges and stepped on so many toes that you’re always looking over your shoulder?

And what is the point of dedicating yourself to your business when your children do not recognize you as they become adults?

What, are you saying that we shouldn’t be working hard? We shouldn’t be hustling?

Hell no, I’m not saying that at all – all I’m saying is to not lose sight of the bigger picture – to go back to your “why”, your reason for doing what you are doing.

Because you might just find that the reason is here and now as opposed to years in the future.

So relax, open the windows and smell the fresh air – there’s always enough time to get through that project.

But there’s never enough time if you forget the why.

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