For me it was meeting a girl that I saw a future with, that somehow saw potential in me. I was fortunate. Lucky. Great universal timing. And even a year or two into dating, I was still the same me. Careless with money. No goals. No aspirations for the future. No direction for myself or this relationship. 11 years later I look back and laugh at how different life could have been.
I think there’s something to be said about being 18-23 years old and told that you’re an adult by societal standards. Out in the world with an undeveloped brain hoping to make smart decisions. “Get a job. Find a partner. Buy a house. Have kids. Make money. Be happy. Figure it out.” Right?
Then I found a reason. One day it just kind of clicks. Your brain goes, “Oh, I need to do better.” And even then, it still takes time to learn and break bad habits. This is no overnight process. This is the accumulation of so many hours telling yourself to make the better decision when so often the easy/fun one is so much more appealing. The good decision is hard. It’s a wonderful future and happiness disguised as a long road of ups and downs.
For me, I call it making the decision to start. It’s probably different for everyone else. Some would call it growing up. Maturing. Being a better person. It was making the conscious decision to stop making bad decisions. At least trying my very best not to. That’s all we can do right? Our very best. You can’t expect much more out of human beings than that. Their very best. That’s it.
I want you to think about that today. What was your reason to start? Mine was my wife and the idea that her putting so much effort into me needed to be reciprocated because when someone bets their life on you, you make sure they win.
Think about it.
-Joff
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The Decision to Start
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For me it was meeting a girl that I saw a future with, that somehow saw potential in me. I was fortunate. Lucky. Great universal timing. And even a year or two into dating, I was still the same me. Careless with money. No goals. No aspirations for the future. No direction for myself or this relationship. 11 years later I look back and laugh at how different life could have been.
I think there’s something to be said about being 18-23 years old and told that you’re an adult by societal standards. Out in the world with an undeveloped brain hoping to make smart decisions. “Get a job. Find a partner. Buy a house. Have kids. Make money. Be happy. Figure it out.” Right?
Then I found a reason. One day it just kind of clicks. Your brain goes, “Oh, I need to do better.” And even then, it still takes time to learn and break bad habits. This is no overnight process. This is the accumulation of so many hours telling yourself to make the better decision when so often the easy/fun one is so much more appealing. The good decision is hard. It’s a wonderful future and happiness disguised as a long road of ups and downs.
For me, I call it making the decision to start. It’s probably different for everyone else. Some would call it growing up. Maturing. Being a better person. It was making the conscious decision to stop making bad decisions. At least trying my very best not to. That’s all we can do right? Our very best. You can’t expect much more out of human beings than that. Their very best. That’s it.
I want you to think about that today. What was your reason to start? Mine was my wife and the idea that her putting so much effort into me needed to be reciprocated because when someone bets their life on you, you make sure they win.
Think about it.
-Joff