For the Love of Money
By SAM POLK
IN my last year on Wall Street my bonus was $3.6 million — and I was angry because it wasn’t big enough. I was 30 years old, had no children to raise, no debts to pay, no philanthropic goal in mind. I wanted more money for exactly the same reason an alcoholic needs another drink: I was addicted.
Eight years earlier, I’d walked onto the trading floor at Credit Suisse First Boston to begin my summer internship. I already knew I wanted to be rich, but when I started out I had a different idea about what wealth meant. I’d come to Wall Street after reading in the book “Liar’s Poker” how Michael Lewis earned a $225,000 bonus after just two years of work on a trading floor. That seemed like a fortune. Every January and February, I think about that time, because these are the months when bonuses are decided and distributed, when fortunes are made.
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I’d learned about the importance of being rich from my dad. He was a modern-day Willy Loman, a salesman with huge dreams that never seemed to materialize. “Imagine what life will be like,” he’d say, “when I make a million dollars.” While he dreamed of selling a screenplay, in reality he sold kitchen cabinets. And not that well. We sometimes lived paycheck to paycheck off my mom’s nurse-practitioner salary.
Dad believed money would solve all his problems. At 22, so did I. When I walked onto that trading floor for the first time and saw the glowing flat-screen TVs, high-tech computer monitors and phone turrets with enough dials, knobs and buttons to make it seem like the cockpit of a fighter plane, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. It looked as if the traders were playing a video game inside a spaceship; if you won this video game, you became what I most wanted to be — rich.
IT was a miracle I’d made it to Wall Street at all. While I was competitive and ambitious — a wrestler at Columbia University — I was also a daily drinker and pot smoker and a regular user of cocaine, Ritalin and ecstasy. I had a propensity for self-destruction that had resulted in my getting suspended from Columbia for burglary, arrested twice and fired from an Internet company for fistfighting. I learned about rage from my dad, too. I can still see his red, contorted face as he charged toward me. I’d lied my way into the C.S.F.B. internship by omitting my transgressions from my résumé and was determined not to blow what seemed a final chance. The only thing as important to me as that internship was my girlfriend, a starter on the Columbia volleyball team. But even though I was in love with her, when I got drunk I’d sometimes end up with other women.
Three weeks into my internship she wisely dumped me. I don’t like who you’ve become, she said. I couldn’t blame her, but I was so devastated that I couldn’t get out of bed. In desperation, I called a counselor whom I had reluctantly seen a few times before and asked for help.
She helped me see that I was using alcohol and drugs to blunt the powerlessness I felt as a kid and suggested I give them up. That began some of the hardest months of my life. Without the alcohol and drugs in my system, I felt like my chest had been cracked open, exposing my heart to air. The counselor said that my abuse of drugs and alcohol was a symptom of an underlying problem — a “spiritual malady,” she called it. C.S.F.B. didn’t offer me a full-time job, and I returned, distraught, to Columbia for senior year.
After graduation, I got a job at Bank of America, by the grace of a managing director willing to take a chance on a kid who had called him every day for three weeks. With a year of sobriety under my belt, I was sharp, cleareyed and hard-working. At the end of my first year I was thrilled to receive a $40,000 bonus. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have to check my balance before I withdrew money. But a week later, a trader who was only four years my senior got hired away by C.S.F.B. for $900,000. After my initial envious shock — his haul was 22 times the size of my bonus — I grew excited at how much money was available.
Over the next few years I worked like a maniac and began to move up the Wall Street ladder. I became a bond and credit default swap trader, one of the more lucrative roles in the business. Just four years after I started at Bank of America, Citibank offered me a “1.75 by 2” which means $1.75 million per year for two years, and I used it to get a promotion. I started dating a pretty blonde and rented a loft apartment on Bond Street for $6,000 a month.
I felt so important. At 25, I could go to any restaurant in Manhattan — Per Se, Le Bernardin — just by picking up the phone and calling one of my brokers, who ingratiate themselves to traders by entertaining with unlimited expense accounts. I could be second row at the Knicks-Lakers game just by hinting to a broker I might be interested in going. The satisfaction wasn’t just about the money. It was about the power. Because of how smart and successful I was, it was someone else’s job to make me happy.
Still, I was nagged by envy. On a trading desk everyone sits together, from interns to managing directors. When the guy next to you makes $10 million, $1 million or $2 million doesn’t look so sweet. Nonetheless, I was thrilled with my progress.
My counselor didn’t share my elation. She said I might be using money the same way I’d used drugs and alcohol — to make myself feel powerful — and that maybe it would benefit me to stop focusing on accumulating more and instead focus on healing my inner wound. “Inner wound”? I thought that was going a little far and went to work for a hedge fund.
Now, working elbow to elbow with billionaires, I was a giant fireball of greed. I’d think about how my colleagues could buy Micronesia if they wanted to, or become mayor of New York City. They didn’t just have money; they had power — power beyond getting a table at Le Bernardin. Senators came to their offices. They were royalty.
I wanted a billion dollars. It’s staggering to think that in the course of five years, I’d gone from being thrilled at my first bonus — $40,000 — to being disappointed when, my second year at the hedge fund, I was paid “only” $1.5 million.
But in the end, it was actually my absurdly wealthy bosses who helped me see the limitations of unlimited wealth. I was in a meeting with one of them, and a few other traders, and they were talking about the new hedge-fund regulations. Most everyone on Wall Street thought they were a bad idea. “But isn’t it better for the system as a whole?” I asked. The room went quiet, and my boss shot me a withering look. I remember his saying, “I don’t have the brain capacity to think about the system as a whole. All I’m concerned with is how this affects our company.”
I felt as if I’d been punched in the gut. He was afraid of losing money, despite all that he had.
From that moment on, I started to see Wall Street with new eyes. I noticed the vitriol that traders directed at the government for limiting bonuses after the crash. I heard the fury in their voices at the mention of higher taxes. These traders despised anything or anyone that threatened their bonuses. Ever see what a drug addict is like when he’s used up his junk? He’ll do anything — walk 20 miles in the snow, rob a grandma — to get a fix. Wall Street was like that. In the months before bonuses were handed out, the trading floor started to feel like a neighborhood in “The Wire” when the heroin runs out.
I’d always looked enviously at the people who earned more than I did; now, for the first time, I was embarrassed for them, and for me. I made in a single year more than my mom made her whole life. I knew that wasn’t fair; that wasn’t right. Yes, I was sharp, good with numbers. I had marketable talents. But in the end I didn’t really do anything. I was a derivatives trader, and it occurred to me the world would hardly change at all if credit derivatives ceased to exist. Not so nurse practitioners. What had seemed normal now seemed deeply distorted.
I had recently finished Taylor Branch’s three-volume series on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement, and the image of the Freedom Riders stepping out of their bus into an infuriated mob had seared itself into my mind. I’d told myself that if I’d been alive in the ‘60s, I would have been on that bus.
But I was lying to myself. There were plenty of injustices out there — rampant poverty, swelling prison populations, a sexual-assault epidemic, an obesity crisis. Not only was I not helping to fix any problems in the world, but I was profiting from them. During the market crash in 2008, I’d made a ton of money by shorting the derivatives of risky companies. As the world crumbled, I profited. I’d seen the crash coming, but instead of trying to help the people it would hurt the most — people who didn’t have a million dollars in the bank — I’d made money off it. I don’t like who you’ve become, my girlfriend had said years earlier. She was right then, and she was still right. Only now, I didn’t like who I’d become either.
Wealth addiction was described by the late sociologist and playwright Philip Slater in a 1980 book, but addiction researchers have paid the concept little attention. Like alcoholics driving drunk, wealth addiction imperils everyone. Wealth addicts are, more than anybody, specifically responsible for the ever widening rift that is tearing apart our once great country. Wealth addicts are responsible for the vast and toxic disparity between the rich and the poor and the annihilation of the middle class. Only a wealth addict would feel justified in receiving $14 million in compensation — including an $8.5 million bonus — as the McDonald’s C.E.O., Don Thompson, did in 2012, while his company then published a brochure for its work force on how to survive on their low wages. Only a wealth addict would earn hundreds of millions as a hedge-fund manager, and then lobby to maintain a tax loophole that gave him a lower tax rate than his secretary.
DESPITE my realizations, it was incredibly difficult to leave. I was terrified of running out of money and of forgoing future bonuses. More than anything, I was afraid that five or 10 years down the road, I’d feel like an idiot for walking away from my one chance to be really important. What made it harder was that people thought I was crazy for thinking about leaving. In 2010, in a final paroxysm of my withering addiction, I demanded $8 million instead of $3.6 million. My bosses said they’d raise my bonus if I agreed to stay several more years. Instead, I walked away.
The first year was really hard. I went through what I can only describe as withdrawal — waking up at nights panicked about running out of money, scouring the headlines to see which of my old co-workers had gotten promoted. Over time it got easier — I started to realize that I had enough money, and if I needed to make more, I could. But my wealth addiction still hasn’t gone completely away. Sometimes I still buy lottery tickets.
In the three years since I left, I’ve married, spoken in jails and juvenile detention centers about getting sober, taught a writing class to girls in the foster system, and started a nonprofit called Groceryships to help poor families struggling with obesity and food addiction. I am much happier. I feel as if I’m making a real contribution. And as time passes, the distortion lessens. I see Wall Street’s mantra — “We’re smarter and work harder than everyone else, so we deserve all this money” — for what it is: the rationalization of addicts. From a distance I can see what I couldn’t see then — that Wall Street is a toxic culture that encourages the grandiosity of people who are desperately trying to feel powerful.
I was lucky. My experience with drugs and alcohol allowed me to recognize my pursuit of wealth as an addiction. The years of work I did with my counselor helped me heal the parts of myself that felt damaged and inadequate, so that I had enough of a core sense of self to walk away.
Dozens of different types of 12-step support groups — including Clutterers Anonymous and On-Line Gamers Anonymous — exist to help addicts of various types, yet there is no Wealth Addicts Anonymous. Why not? Because our culture supports and even lauds the addiction. Look at the magazine covers in any newsstand, plastered with the faces of celebrities and C.E.O.'s; the superrich are our cultural gods. I hope we all confront our part in enabling wealth addicts to exert so much influence over our country.
I generally think that if one is rich and believes they have “enough,” they are not a wealth addict. On Wall Street, in my experience, that sense of “enough” is rare. The money guy doing a job he complains about for yet another year so he can add $2 million to his $20 million bank account seems like an addict.
I recently got an email from a hedge-fund trader who said that though he was making millions every year, he felt trapped and empty, but couldn’t summon the courage to leave. I believe there are others out there. Maybe we can form a group and confront our addiction together. And if you identify with what I’ve written, but are reticent to leave, then take a small step in the right direction. Let’s create a fund, where everyone agrees to put, say, 25 percent of their annual bonuses into it, and we’ll use that to help some of the people who actually need the money that we’ve been so rabidly chasing. Together, maybe we can make a real contribution to the world.
Monday, January 20, 2014
THOUGHTS
A true soul mate is probably the most important person you’ll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave. A soul mate’s purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, and make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life
When I say, “I love you,” it’s not because I want you or because I can’t have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I’ve seen your kindness and your strength. I’ve seen the best and the worst of you. And I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You’re a hell of a woman.”
You may not be her first, her last, or her only. She loved before she may love again. But if she loves you now, what else matters? She's not perfect, you aren't either, and the two of you may never be perfect together but if she can make you laugh, cause you to think twice, and admit to being human and making mistakes, hold onto her and give her the most you can.She may not be thinking about you every second of the day, but she will give you a part of her that she knows you can break her heart. So don't hurt her, don't change her, don't analyze and don't expect more than she can give. Smile when she maked you happy, let her know when she makes you mad, and miss her when she's not there.
When I say, “I love you,” it’s not because I want you or because I can’t have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I’ve seen your kindness and your strength. I’ve seen the best and the worst of you. And I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You’re a hell of a woman.”
You may not be her first, her last, or her only. She loved before she may love again. But if she loves you now, what else matters? She's not perfect, you aren't either, and the two of you may never be perfect together but if she can make you laugh, cause you to think twice, and admit to being human and making mistakes, hold onto her and give her the most you can.She may not be thinking about you every second of the day, but she will give you a part of her that she knows you can break her heart. So don't hurt her, don't change her, don't analyze and don't expect more than she can give. Smile when she maked you happy, let her know when she makes you mad, and miss her when she's not there.
DATING/LOVE: I ONLY DATE WOMAN WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ME
Life is too short to waste your time on pursuits with no a low return on investment.I only date women who are INTERESTED in me.I don't have women in my life that don't love me. It is not a 'negative attitude'. It is a WEEDING OUT PROCESS. I weed out unsuitable women. What's unsuitable?
LOW interest. Why met her if she doesn't respond back to my text.? Low interest. Why met her if she doesn't ask about me?'. LOW interest. Why met her if she always busy and doesn't have time for me? LOW INTEREST!!!! I have noticed that when a woman is completely into you, she is willing to do absolutely ANYTHING to make your life easy?
Her eyes just light up on seeing you and she greets you with the warmest smile, accompanied by a tight hug or a kiss.She never flakes out or breaks dates. Instead, she always manages to find a way to be with you, regardless of how difficult her circumstances are.She treats you like a king and talks to you with utmost respect.
When their interest is always below my own. I feel like I'm always the one trying to "make it work". Either keeping the conversation flowing, or initiating hanging out.I believe in two concept...The Reality Factor (“Things are the way they are. If you go against reality, reality works against you, resulting in pain.”) and The Bottom Line Factor (“Only a woman’s actions truly reflect her feelings toward you.”) To you Psych majors: a man should only love a woman who loves him first and a lot. Even though Miss Right is beautiful, inside and out, I still ask myself , "Is she going to be part of the crew or part of the cargo?" To you Psych majors again, “Is she high maintenance or low maintenance?”So, what comprises a good female attitude? Integrity, giving, and flexibility.
What does educational level have to do with emotion? What does your degree have to do with the way someone treats you? ZIP,
LOW interest. Why met her if she doesn't respond back to my text.? Low interest. Why met her if she doesn't ask about me?'. LOW interest. Why met her if she always busy and doesn't have time for me? LOW INTEREST!!!! I have noticed that when a woman is completely into you, she is willing to do absolutely ANYTHING to make your life easy?
Her eyes just light up on seeing you and she greets you with the warmest smile, accompanied by a tight hug or a kiss.She never flakes out or breaks dates. Instead, she always manages to find a way to be with you, regardless of how difficult her circumstances are.She treats you like a king and talks to you with utmost respect.
When their interest is always below my own. I feel like I'm always the one trying to "make it work". Either keeping the conversation flowing, or initiating hanging out.I believe in two concept...The Reality Factor (“Things are the way they are. If you go against reality, reality works against you, resulting in pain.”) and The Bottom Line Factor (“Only a woman’s actions truly reflect her feelings toward you.”) To you Psych majors: a man should only love a woman who loves him first and a lot. Even though Miss Right is beautiful, inside and out, I still ask myself , "Is she going to be part of the crew or part of the cargo?" To you Psych majors again, “Is she high maintenance or low maintenance?”So, what comprises a good female attitude? Integrity, giving, and flexibility.
What does educational level have to do with emotion? What does your degree have to do with the way someone treats you? ZIP,
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Friday, January 17, 2014
LOVE/DATING: WOMAN WHO LOVE LOSER >> SHOULD HAVE THIS SAYING TATOO ON TOP OF THEIR PY "NO ROMANCE WITHOUT FINANCE"
With a male world population of 3+ billion, why on earth would any woman ever settle for a deadbeat loser?
To me..settling for a deadbeat loser is like settling for a job you hate. There are way too many people who hate their jobs and keep on doing them, just like there are way too many women who settle for men who treat them poorly. What is it about non-ideal situations which makes us keep carrying on, doing nothing to change?
My theory is that in the beginning, most women don’t know the guy is a deadbeat loser. He probably is reasonably attractive and tells a good story about his current situation and his ambitions. Obviously, he will be on his best behavior during the wooing process. It might take one week, or it might take many months, but until a consummation is made, guys can be very charming! By the time a woman hooks up with the guy, only afterward will she see his true colors.
Her “oh, shit” moment comes at a time after she’s given everything to him. As we are generally all optimists, a woman believes she can salvage the relationship and change him for the better. Unfortunately, no matter how hard she tries, she can’t teach a gorilla how to put down the toilet seat, pay for dinner, and write her sweet notes of nothing. It’s too late, and eventually, the relationship fades. In retrospect, every woman who has gone out with a deadbeat loser realizes the case. “I don’t know what I was thinking“, is a phrase that always comes up.
WHAT’S IN THEIR HEADS
They don’t believe they are worthy. Above all else, I believe that the reason why most woman settle for someone suboptimal is because they believe they aren’t deserving of more. This is utterly disappointing and ludicrous. You don’t deserve to be mistreated or taken advantage of ever! You deserve to have someone love you back as much as you love them. Those who ask for promotions get promotions.
They’re afraid to be alone. Life isn’t worth living if there’s nobody special to share it with. I’d rather be a median waged person with a loved one than be a lonely billionaire in the long run. It’s irrational to think that you will die alone given the population of the world today. Every day, we have the opportunity to meet a hundred people if we want to. It just takes initiative.I have to remind myself of this as well.
They think they can teach a dog how to speak. If there are five “must haves” such as humor, compassion, motivation, spontaneous, cultured and he has three out of five, the temptation is to settle. Perhaps over time, you believe he’ll be able to develop the other two must haves and be that ideal guy. You’ll be able to change him for the better, which is hardly ever the case. The problem with this thought process is that he might actually lose one of the three must haves, and then you’re really going to feel bitter for wasting your precious youth on him!
They’re afraid to get hurt. If we never try meeting other people, we will never get rejected. It’s truly disheartening when someone else doesn’t show you the same interest as you’ve shown them. Guys get rejected left and right because for some reason, society has told us we always have to initiate. Rejection doesn’t get that much easier to deal with after a while. Instead, we settle for what we have or just being a lone. That’s sad, because time isn’t on our side. The older women get, the smaller the pool since women refuse to be with men younger than them, whereas it’s everything goes for guys!
They’re losers themselves! Deadbeat women tend to go out with deadbeat men. Society always sees men as losers, and women as misguided. I guess there is equality for all, after all!
“ALL THE GOOD ONES ARE ALWAYS ALREADY TAKEN”
One of the best excuses women tell me for not wanting to be with an attractive guy who has all she wants is that she’s afraid she won’t be able to hang on to him. She’s afraid other women will be all over him, while she’s also afraid as she grows older, he’ll stop wanting to be with her.
This type of reasoning is very hard for men to understand because guys think they might as well be with the hottest and nicest woman possible in her prime, and lose her later than have someone less appealing. Guys also love it when their woman gets all the attention from other guys. I guess it’s because guys ignorantly believe their women will never cheat on them. Of course, we all know women cheat on men as much as men cheat on women.
I’ve heard so many stories from women who have been with guys for years and their main complaint isn’t cheating, or being used, it’s the fact that their men aren’t doing shit with their lives. If a guy fucks you and never calls, you learn and become a wiser person. If a man pops in and out of your life using you, eventually you will smarten up and stop being his victim. But to be crazy in love with a guy who is content being at the bottom will create lifelong problems. He will tell you he loves you, he will marry you, and he will give you kids, but he will also stay at the same pay level, waste money on dumb shit, and blame others for his lack of success until the day he dies. To love a man with no ambition or drive is like having an adult kid who refuses to move out of the basement. Is that really the person you want to spend the rest of your life with?
The #1 way to prevent falling in Love With A Loser is to recognize what kind of person he is before you become exclusive. If he’s not going to school, I’m talking full time; not taking one class at community to keep his mother off his back, homie should have a J.O.B. No Romance Without Finance should be tatted above your vagina so you never forget this simple yet effective rule.
How are you going to explain to your friends that you can’t go on that cruise because your boyfriend is almost out of the money he won in a car accident 14 years ago? Girls talk about, “I do this for my man, I do that for my man, I’m a good woman“, but what the fuck is your man doing for you besides half eating your coochie and taking you fine dining at McDonalds one a week? It’s not about how much money he is making right now, it’s about him working towards making more in the near the future. Not everyone is going to be rich in life, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay at the bottom. There is always a job available, but most dudes think they are too good to flip burgers or stock shelves. The people who are too good for those jobs are called “college educated” and if you were too lazy to get a higher education or learn a trade, you can’t complain about entry-level positions. “The Economy Bad” is the most bullshit excuse in the world.
Common sense would dictate that we men should strive to have a relationship with a woman with ambition and a career, but that’s rarely the case. We don’t want to fuck shorty because she has a Benz, we want to fuck shorty because of how she looks. It’s the Cinderella effect, men don’t care where you come from, we’re more concerned about how sexy you looked when you walked into that room. The Prince will pass up all of these equally powerful women for a woman who was going nowhere fast because men hunt for trophies, not partners.
To me..settling for a deadbeat loser is like settling for a job you hate. There are way too many people who hate their jobs and keep on doing them, just like there are way too many women who settle for men who treat them poorly. What is it about non-ideal situations which makes us keep carrying on, doing nothing to change?
My theory is that in the beginning, most women don’t know the guy is a deadbeat loser. He probably is reasonably attractive and tells a good story about his current situation and his ambitions. Obviously, he will be on his best behavior during the wooing process. It might take one week, or it might take many months, but until a consummation is made, guys can be very charming! By the time a woman hooks up with the guy, only afterward will she see his true colors.
Her “oh, shit” moment comes at a time after she’s given everything to him. As we are generally all optimists, a woman believes she can salvage the relationship and change him for the better. Unfortunately, no matter how hard she tries, she can’t teach a gorilla how to put down the toilet seat, pay for dinner, and write her sweet notes of nothing. It’s too late, and eventually, the relationship fades. In retrospect, every woman who has gone out with a deadbeat loser realizes the case. “I don’t know what I was thinking“, is a phrase that always comes up.
WHAT’S IN THEIR HEADS
They don’t believe they are worthy. Above all else, I believe that the reason why most woman settle for someone suboptimal is because they believe they aren’t deserving of more. This is utterly disappointing and ludicrous. You don’t deserve to be mistreated or taken advantage of ever! You deserve to have someone love you back as much as you love them. Those who ask for promotions get promotions.
They’re afraid to be alone. Life isn’t worth living if there’s nobody special to share it with. I’d rather be a median waged person with a loved one than be a lonely billionaire in the long run. It’s irrational to think that you will die alone given the population of the world today. Every day, we have the opportunity to meet a hundred people if we want to. It just takes initiative.I have to remind myself of this as well.
They think they can teach a dog how to speak. If there are five “must haves” such as humor, compassion, motivation, spontaneous, cultured and he has three out of five, the temptation is to settle. Perhaps over time, you believe he’ll be able to develop the other two must haves and be that ideal guy. You’ll be able to change him for the better, which is hardly ever the case. The problem with this thought process is that he might actually lose one of the three must haves, and then you’re really going to feel bitter for wasting your precious youth on him!
They’re afraid to get hurt. If we never try meeting other people, we will never get rejected. It’s truly disheartening when someone else doesn’t show you the same interest as you’ve shown them. Guys get rejected left and right because for some reason, society has told us we always have to initiate. Rejection doesn’t get that much easier to deal with after a while. Instead, we settle for what we have or just being a lone. That’s sad, because time isn’t on our side. The older women get, the smaller the pool since women refuse to be with men younger than them, whereas it’s everything goes for guys!
They’re losers themselves! Deadbeat women tend to go out with deadbeat men. Society always sees men as losers, and women as misguided. I guess there is equality for all, after all!
“ALL THE GOOD ONES ARE ALWAYS ALREADY TAKEN”
One of the best excuses women tell me for not wanting to be with an attractive guy who has all she wants is that she’s afraid she won’t be able to hang on to him. She’s afraid other women will be all over him, while she’s also afraid as she grows older, he’ll stop wanting to be with her.
This type of reasoning is very hard for men to understand because guys think they might as well be with the hottest and nicest woman possible in her prime, and lose her later than have someone less appealing. Guys also love it when their woman gets all the attention from other guys. I guess it’s because guys ignorantly believe their women will never cheat on them. Of course, we all know women cheat on men as much as men cheat on women.
I’ve heard so many stories from women who have been with guys for years and their main complaint isn’t cheating, or being used, it’s the fact that their men aren’t doing shit with their lives. If a guy fucks you and never calls, you learn and become a wiser person. If a man pops in and out of your life using you, eventually you will smarten up and stop being his victim. But to be crazy in love with a guy who is content being at the bottom will create lifelong problems. He will tell you he loves you, he will marry you, and he will give you kids, but he will also stay at the same pay level, waste money on dumb shit, and blame others for his lack of success until the day he dies. To love a man with no ambition or drive is like having an adult kid who refuses to move out of the basement. Is that really the person you want to spend the rest of your life with?
The #1 way to prevent falling in Love With A Loser is to recognize what kind of person he is before you become exclusive. If he’s not going to school, I’m talking full time; not taking one class at community to keep his mother off his back, homie should have a J.O.B. No Romance Without Finance should be tatted above your vagina so you never forget this simple yet effective rule.
How are you going to explain to your friends that you can’t go on that cruise because your boyfriend is almost out of the money he won in a car accident 14 years ago? Girls talk about, “I do this for my man, I do that for my man, I’m a good woman“, but what the fuck is your man doing for you besides half eating your coochie and taking you fine dining at McDonalds one a week? It’s not about how much money he is making right now, it’s about him working towards making more in the near the future. Not everyone is going to be rich in life, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay at the bottom. There is always a job available, but most dudes think they are too good to flip burgers or stock shelves. The people who are too good for those jobs are called “college educated” and if you were too lazy to get a higher education or learn a trade, you can’t complain about entry-level positions. “The Economy Bad” is the most bullshit excuse in the world.
Common sense would dictate that we men should strive to have a relationship with a woman with ambition and a career, but that’s rarely the case. We don’t want to fuck shorty because she has a Benz, we want to fuck shorty because of how she looks. It’s the Cinderella effect, men don’t care where you come from, we’re more concerned about how sexy you looked when you walked into that room. The Prince will pass up all of these equally powerful women for a woman who was going nowhere fast because men hunt for trophies, not partners.
LOVE LETTER: DEAR SOULMATE YOU CARRY THE CIRCLE OF BEAUTY
Dear Soulmate
Every time I think of you, I get a smile on my face. One that warms me from the inside out,and puts my heart at rest. Every time I have a dream, I see your face again, It beckons me to come closer, but disappears before I'm there. Every time I imagine you, a bird whistles a song, a tune that gives you hope, and the strength to go on.And every time I talk to you, I feel so out of sorts,just like a little boy with so little self-control..How would I live without you and why would I want to. You have given me so much happiness,..in such a short time. Without you in my life,..I'm not sure my life would even be mine. When I met you ...it was like a whole new world opened up for me; I saw a totally different view...and only because of you. The sunsets & rainbows that I had admired suddenly became so much more colorful and having you to share them with, made even the stars shine brighter.When I am with you it's so magical,..I'm so afraid that I will wake up,..and it will all be a dream, If so,..I never want to wake up, I want to stay in your magical beam,..and slide down rainbows,see your face in the sunset,..and hold on to my shining star,I thank God, each day, for bringing you into my life and for letting me be a part of yours,..he has given me so many miracles, I wonder sometimes why he doesn't give up on me, but them he knows best,I won't question him,..You have that twinkle in your eye like the stars in the velvet sky when we hold hands we just sit and stare. When I'm in the shadows you show the light I see you everywhere I go even when I dream at night. You want our love to show when I kiss you time goes slow. I can hold our love from here to there. I feel the silk on your hair. I said you are a cutie.I told you "you carry the circle of beauty" I know everything will be alright because I'll be lovin' you when I dream at night
Every time I think of you, I get a smile on my face. One that warms me from the inside out,and puts my heart at rest. Every time I have a dream, I see your face again, It beckons me to come closer, but disappears before I'm there. Every time I imagine you, a bird whistles a song, a tune that gives you hope, and the strength to go on.And every time I talk to you, I feel so out of sorts,just like a little boy with so little self-control..How would I live without you and why would I want to. You have given me so much happiness,..in such a short time. Without you in my life,..I'm not sure my life would even be mine. When I met you ...it was like a whole new world opened up for me; I saw a totally different view...and only because of you. The sunsets & rainbows that I had admired suddenly became so much more colorful and having you to share them with, made even the stars shine brighter.When I am with you it's so magical,..I'm so afraid that I will wake up,..and it will all be a dream, If so,..I never want to wake up, I want to stay in your magical beam,..and slide down rainbows,see your face in the sunset,..and hold on to my shining star,I thank God, each day, for bringing you into my life and for letting me be a part of yours,..he has given me so many miracles, I wonder sometimes why he doesn't give up on me, but them he knows best,I won't question him,..You have that twinkle in your eye like the stars in the velvet sky when we hold hands we just sit and stare. When I'm in the shadows you show the light I see you everywhere I go even when I dream at night. You want our love to show when I kiss you time goes slow. I can hold our love from here to there. I feel the silk on your hair. I said you are a cutie.I told you "you carry the circle of beauty" I know everything will be alright because I'll be lovin' you when I dream at night
Thursday, January 16, 2014
LOVE LETTER: DEAR SOULMATE.... MY LOVE FOR YOU AS A RELIGION
Dear Soulmate,
Your love is like a warm breeze on a hot summer day. It gently caresses my skin as it blows by like the touch of your hand. I tilt my head and imagine the warmth I feel on my lips is a warm kiss from you. I feel your love in the breeze as it blows by me, wrapping itself around me as if I were in your arms safe and warm. I close my eyes and listen to the breeze imagining I can hear you whisper softly "I Love You" in my ear. I smile softly and whisper "I Love You, Too" imagining you can feel my love in the warm breeze...My heart is like an open book,waiting for you to read, It was written for your eyes,for no other could understand it.As you turn the page you will find that our love was meant to be.We were destined to be together until eternity.As you look you will see just how much I love you.You will see our past and hold our future,you will see the pain and happiness we shared,you will see the things to come,and love that still grows.For my heart is an open book that will never close.When I die know this, I will have gone to heaven, having lived a life of bliss. Each time I close my eyes I see a picture.A picture of you and I bound together as one.Like paint on canvas I see the Artist's strokes iIllustrate sensuous curves of velvet texture and exciting hue all in the form of you.The same Artist that painted the stars on the sky that gave you a heart of gold and lips that taste like wine.Yes, the same Artist that let you be mine. Love's hypnotic rhapsody washes over me It's bewitching spell drowning my soul in wave washed ecstasy As I submit myself to her unparalleled beauty. Pondering an endless horizon, I wonder at the endlessness of my feelings; Joy soaring to boundless altitudes. Love, burning with an intensity which will scorch the earth. Love, unbound and endless, which will nourish the world, feeding those lonely souls who have never known Love. My heart intones endless litanies, for my love for you,as a religion, and you, as a goddess of all that is beautiful and sublime inhabit the temple that is my soul presiding over my emotions and desires with arms outstretched and understanding in your heart
A name in a dream,
A beautiful woman
full of compassion
Gentle, a vision of
everything I desired
Unreal, only an illusion
perhaps
But, one that I have
kept close to my heart
She was there behind me,
close by me
A belief, a vision,
a guardian angel
Mysterious, perhaps a
product of my delusions
But yet, she uttered her
name in desperate moments
She was the lover, the friend,
the companion, real enough
The one who could
lead me out of this hell
I depended on her in those
very desperate moments
Life and death in the balance
A beautiful vision,
compassionate, delightful,
gentle
She touched my shoulder
Gripped my hand
And somehow it was all right
Your love is like a warm breeze on a hot summer day. It gently caresses my skin as it blows by like the touch of your hand. I tilt my head and imagine the warmth I feel on my lips is a warm kiss from you. I feel your love in the breeze as it blows by me, wrapping itself around me as if I were in your arms safe and warm. I close my eyes and listen to the breeze imagining I can hear you whisper softly "I Love You" in my ear. I smile softly and whisper "I Love You, Too" imagining you can feel my love in the warm breeze...My heart is like an open book,waiting for you to read, It was written for your eyes,for no other could understand it.As you turn the page you will find that our love was meant to be.We were destined to be together until eternity.As you look you will see just how much I love you.You will see our past and hold our future,you will see the pain and happiness we shared,you will see the things to come,and love that still grows.For my heart is an open book that will never close.When I die know this, I will have gone to heaven, having lived a life of bliss. Each time I close my eyes I see a picture.A picture of you and I bound together as one.Like paint on canvas I see the Artist's strokes iIllustrate sensuous curves of velvet texture and exciting hue all in the form of you.The same Artist that painted the stars on the sky that gave you a heart of gold and lips that taste like wine.Yes, the same Artist that let you be mine. Love's hypnotic rhapsody washes over me It's bewitching spell drowning my soul in wave washed ecstasy As I submit myself to her unparalleled beauty. Pondering an endless horizon, I wonder at the endlessness of my feelings; Joy soaring to boundless altitudes. Love, burning with an intensity which will scorch the earth. Love, unbound and endless, which will nourish the world, feeding those lonely souls who have never known Love. My heart intones endless litanies, for my love for you,as a religion, and you, as a goddess of all that is beautiful and sublime inhabit the temple that is my soul presiding over my emotions and desires with arms outstretched and understanding in your heart
A name in a dream,
A beautiful woman
full of compassion
Gentle, a vision of
everything I desired
Unreal, only an illusion
perhaps
But, one that I have
kept close to my heart
She was there behind me,
close by me
A belief, a vision,
a guardian angel
Mysterious, perhaps a
product of my delusions
But yet, she uttered her
name in desperate moments
She was the lover, the friend,
the companion, real enough
The one who could
lead me out of this hell
I depended on her in those
very desperate moments
Life and death in the balance
A beautiful vision,
compassionate, delightful,
gentle
She touched my shoulder
Gripped my hand
And somehow it was all right
DATING/LOVE: DYING ALONE..AND THE PRO AND CONS OF WAITING
Dying alone is something that many people start to think about when they’re single. When you’re young, being single isn’t really seen as a bad thing, since you can go out drinking and bring home a different partner every night. You can only find this kind of lifestyle satisfying for so long, though, as eventually all your friends will settle down and have kids and you’ll be left on the shelf.
It is when you reach this stage of life that you start to imagine the worst like I am right now. You become preoccupied with the thought of dying alone, even though everyone dies alone in the end. Even if you find someone to share your life with you are hardly likely to die together and so one of you is going to have to go first! That doesn’t matter when you’re feeling down about being by yourself.If you get married and have children there will be someone there for you when you’re old and struggling with ill health. It is reassuring to know that there will be a support network for you, even if this does seem rather selfish.
Pros of Being Married
There are many benefits of being married that one just can't dispute. See if any of these perks would make you want to give up waiting for your butterfly man:
Constant companionship
Knowing someone is on your side
A steady sex partner (can't beat that!)
Someone to take care of you if you get sick
You're automatically "a family"
The opportunity to have children
Someone to share a future with
No more lonely Saturday nights
Someone to go on vacations with
Having two incomes
Knowing there is someone at home with you that night to talk to, eat dinner with, make love with, or watch a movie with after a hard day at work
Maintaining an ongoing relationship with a man
Waiting for Chemistry
Now let's look at the realities of choice in staying single while waiting it out
Pros of Waiting
You're free to pursue your career to the fullest extent
You're free to pursue your passions and interests
You're free to live where you want
You're free to do what you want with your money
You're free to grow and learn more about yourself, take workshops, enroll in classes
You're not accountable for anyone except yourself
You can travel wherever you want, whenever you want
You don't have to put up with someone else s habits or any behavior you don't want to tolerate
You don't have to go through a horrible divorce
Cons Of Waiting
-Dating can be traumatic-dating for years, subjecting yourself to all different types of people can be traumatizing. Repetitive rejections and disappointments, having to attach and reattach, can take a toll on a a person's energy, emotional and physical health, and psyche. Although dating is supposed to be a social event, it can also be a horrible experience, causing feelings of humiliation and hopelessness. This is a lot to deal with-and without proper guidance, it can be overwhelming.
You're really alone! One of the major downfalls of being without a partner is that there is no one immediately there to help you if you should need it-such as when you have an illness, financial difficulties, or just a bad day. Experiences like these may cause single person to second-guess the choices they've made.
Shopping-Bag Syndrome
Many single individual have a secret fear of ending up a "shopping-bag person," even if they are successful and doing well financially. It appears to be a universal fear that they will end up alone, homeless, and broke.
It is when you reach this stage of life that you start to imagine the worst like I am right now. You become preoccupied with the thought of dying alone, even though everyone dies alone in the end. Even if you find someone to share your life with you are hardly likely to die together and so one of you is going to have to go first! That doesn’t matter when you’re feeling down about being by yourself.If you get married and have children there will be someone there for you when you’re old and struggling with ill health. It is reassuring to know that there will be a support network for you, even if this does seem rather selfish.
Pros of Being Married
There are many benefits of being married that one just can't dispute. See if any of these perks would make you want to give up waiting for your butterfly man:
Constant companionship
Knowing someone is on your side
A steady sex partner (can't beat that!)
Someone to take care of you if you get sick
You're automatically "a family"
The opportunity to have children
Someone to share a future with
No more lonely Saturday nights
Someone to go on vacations with
Having two incomes
Knowing there is someone at home with you that night to talk to, eat dinner with, make love with, or watch a movie with after a hard day at work
Maintaining an ongoing relationship with a man
Waiting for Chemistry
Now let's look at the realities of choice in staying single while waiting it out
Pros of Waiting
You're free to pursue your career to the fullest extent
You're free to pursue your passions and interests
You're free to live where you want
You're free to do what you want with your money
You're free to grow and learn more about yourself, take workshops, enroll in classes
You're not accountable for anyone except yourself
You can travel wherever you want, whenever you want
You don't have to put up with someone else s habits or any behavior you don't want to tolerate
You don't have to go through a horrible divorce
Cons Of Waiting
-Dating can be traumatic-dating for years, subjecting yourself to all different types of people can be traumatizing. Repetitive rejections and disappointments, having to attach and reattach, can take a toll on a a person's energy, emotional and physical health, and psyche. Although dating is supposed to be a social event, it can also be a horrible experience, causing feelings of humiliation and hopelessness. This is a lot to deal with-and without proper guidance, it can be overwhelming.
You're really alone! One of the major downfalls of being without a partner is that there is no one immediately there to help you if you should need it-such as when you have an illness, financial difficulties, or just a bad day. Experiences like these may cause single person to second-guess the choices they've made.
Shopping-Bag Syndrome
Many single individual have a secret fear of ending up a "shopping-bag person," even if they are successful and doing well financially. It appears to be a universal fear that they will end up alone, homeless, and broke.
JOURNAL:A NORMAL DAY
I am standing in line at my favorite cafe, surrounded by smells and sounds. An uptempo milieu of acoustic guitar and tambourine is occupying the atmosphere around me, an Andy Davis tune, and I’m singing along—”It’s a goooo-oood life; it’s a good, good life”—like a tone-deaf idiot, missing every-other note, mumbling the words I don’t know while looking out the large window to my left, staring into the blankness of the morning.
I smell coffee. The smell alone is a near-religious experience. The whole scene is impressive in the way a kid breakdancing on the street is impressive; it’s completely foreign to me, but I’m mesmerized. How could you not be?
People’s faces change, visibly brighten, when they enter the cafe’s main room, kicking snow from their boots and brushing melted flakes from their parkas. Their postures autocorrect under the high ceilings; the average height of each patron seems to increase at least half an inch as they stand in line, bathed in natural light and coffee aroma.
It’s my turn to order: Americano, black. The dark-haired girl at the register is wearing a smile I’d like to frame. She’s intimidatingly attractive, and so I fumble for something clever to say when she asks me how I’m doing. But I’ve got nothing, no words—my mouth, a swordless sheath.
I pull out my wallet to pay, peeling a few singles from my thin stack. I don’t even consider using my credit card. The cold keeps calm everything outside the windows, huge flakes like wet chips of white paint peeling off the sky. Cash—not a debit card, but cold hard cash—
I smell coffee. The smell alone is a near-religious experience. The whole scene is impressive in the way a kid breakdancing on the street is impressive; it’s completely foreign to me, but I’m mesmerized. How could you not be?
People’s faces change, visibly brighten, when they enter the cafe’s main room, kicking snow from their boots and brushing melted flakes from their parkas. Their postures autocorrect under the high ceilings; the average height of each patron seems to increase at least half an inch as they stand in line, bathed in natural light and coffee aroma.
It’s my turn to order: Americano, black. The dark-haired girl at the register is wearing a smile I’d like to frame. She’s intimidatingly attractive, and so I fumble for something clever to say when she asks me how I’m doing. But I’ve got nothing, no words—my mouth, a swordless sheath.
I pull out my wallet to pay, peeling a few singles from my thin stack. I don’t even consider using my credit card. The cold keeps calm everything outside the windows, huge flakes like wet chips of white paint peeling off the sky. Cash—not a debit card, but cold hard cash—
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
PERSONAL: I MAY NEVER KNOW YOUR NAME
I may never know your name or ever speak a word to you. But I know the way my heart leaped when your dark eyes glanced at me.I took in each of your features. A mental picture, I'll carry with me always as a cherished memory.So, if fate brings us together again...I'll still recall your breath-taking face. I wonder if you saw the look deep within my eyes that, I am sure could have led you to my soul.Maybe someday we'll meet again. Perhaps many years from now and, still, I will remember your heart's smile.
Once, walking on a midwinter's morning. I spied two lovers in a brilliant glow sitting by the streams of a waterfall, falling And laughing in ways an old novel would know. Their speech appeared natural, sounded so pure As if they were one but defined as two.And the shine to their eyes and faces could lure.Any who coveted their love, soft and true. Though many souls were wandering silently, but one took the feeling quite literally and kept it in her locket of hearts, adoring. This prized possession, her gift from above;And I? I could claim to know something of love Once, walking on a midwinter's morning.
LOVE LETTER: DEAR SOULMATE
Dear Soulmate
In the tranquil hours of night I walk in your soul. You live in my heart...with each beat...with each breath. We are one Dawn merges with morning.I melt into you.You capture my spirit. Our hearts swell with passion. Our bodies weep with ecstasy. We are eternal love.You're dressed in antebellum finery with flower-bedecked curls,the epochs of my eyes are grasping your world... We come together, and there's not a chance of a fatal part,you guide me like no other could guide me deep inside your heart. I feel your love surrounding me when we're together,always and forever, you will gain the same from me like a drifting feather.The emblem reveals a timeless mystery,once not known, but it's all past history.You're the seed that grows in my soul,the sunlight from your love keeps the buds shimmering as one whole.I can't stand the pain when your silent presence guides away from me,and when I dream of you, the world smiles gracefully. Angels singing harmonically,as we lift our imagination, and make it become reality...because we are one.
I watched as she slept somehow she sensed it extending an arm out to cross the vastness to my chest. Hand landing on heart...seemingly trying to grasp hold of something invisible. Having a warm body by your side may feel like comfort food, may feel like security, may feel like love or is it ~ does it feel? I watch as her eyes open waking from her dream world and wondering what she is thinking or feeling, as she looks at me expressionless. she somehow sensed it,a smile appears as her hand moves to caress forehead to lips retracing lines of a face, her dream, or her reality? She is like a rose in bloom awakening from it's sleep seeing the bud but not truly knowing what lies inside. Though you know she is beautiful somehow you sensed it-petals slowly opening anxiously awaiting the moment when all is shown to you. But does the flower ever really know
In the tranquil hours of night I walk in your soul. You live in my heart...with each beat...with each breath. We are one Dawn merges with morning.I melt into you.You capture my spirit. Our hearts swell with passion. Our bodies weep with ecstasy. We are eternal love.You're dressed in antebellum finery with flower-bedecked curls,the epochs of my eyes are grasping your world... We come together, and there's not a chance of a fatal part,you guide me like no other could guide me deep inside your heart. I feel your love surrounding me when we're together,always and forever, you will gain the same from me like a drifting feather.The emblem reveals a timeless mystery,once not known, but it's all past history.You're the seed that grows in my soul,the sunlight from your love keeps the buds shimmering as one whole.I can't stand the pain when your silent presence guides away from me,and when I dream of you, the world smiles gracefully. Angels singing harmonically,as we lift our imagination, and make it become reality...because we are one.
I watched as she slept somehow she sensed it extending an arm out to cross the vastness to my chest. Hand landing on heart...seemingly trying to grasp hold of something invisible. Having a warm body by your side may feel like comfort food, may feel like security, may feel like love or is it ~ does it feel? I watch as her eyes open waking from her dream world and wondering what she is thinking or feeling, as she looks at me expressionless. she somehow sensed it,a smile appears as her hand moves to caress forehead to lips retracing lines of a face, her dream, or her reality? She is like a rose in bloom awakening from it's sleep seeing the bud but not truly knowing what lies inside. Though you know she is beautiful somehow you sensed it-petals slowly opening anxiously awaiting the moment when all is shown to you. But does the flower ever really know
who she shows herself to? Who appreciates her beauty? Who loves her? I extend a hand out and cross the vastness to her face seemingly trying to grasp hold of something invisible but I am awake and she is still a flower in bloom...
JOURNAL: ASSESSMENT FOR THE YEAR (THINGS THAT I AM GRATEFUL FOR)
Physical Environment
-My personal files, papers, and receipts are neatly filed away.
-My car is in excellent condition. (Doesn't need mechanical work, repairs, cleaning or replacing)
-My home is clean and tidy. (Vacuumed, wardrobes and drawers organized, desks and tables clear, furniture in good repair; windows clean).
-My appliances, machinery and equipment work well. (Fridge, toaster, lawn mower, water heater, hi-fi etc.).
-My clothes are all ironed, clean and make me look good. (No creases, piles of washing, torn, out-of-date or ill-fitting clothes).
-My bed/bedroom lets me have the best sleep possible. (Firm bed, light, air).
-I live in a house/flat that I love.
-I surround myself with beautiful things.
-I live in the geographical location of my choice.
-There is ample and healthy lighting around me.
-I consistently have adequate time, space and freedom in my life.
-Nothing in my environment harms me.
-I am not tolerating anything about my home or work environment.
-My work environment is productive and inspiring. (Synergistic, ample tools and resources; no undue pressure).
-My computer works very well and fully supports my efforts.
-I back up my hard drive at least monthly.
-I surround myself with music which makes my life more enjoyable.
-My bed is made daily.
-I don't injure myself, fall or bump into things.
-People feel comfortable in my home.
-I drink at least 2 liters of water a day.
-I have nothing around the house or in storage that I do not need.
-I am consistently early or easily on time.
Well-Being
-I rarely use caffeine. (Chocolate, coffee, colas, tea) less than 3 times per week, total.
-I rarely eat sugar. (Less than 3 times per week).
-I rarely drink alcohol.
-My teeth and gums are healthy. (Have seen dentist in last 6 months).
-My cholesterol is at a healthy level.
-My blood pressure is at a healthy level.
-I have had a complete physical examination within the past 3 years.
-I do not smoke tobacco or other substances.
-I do not use illegal drugs or misuse prescribed medications.
-I have had a complete eye examination within the past two years.(Glaucoma check, vision test).
-My nails are healthy and look good.
-I have no habits which are unacceptable to me.
-I consistently have evenings, weekends and holidays off and take at least four weeks of holiday each year.
-I have just the right amount of sleep.
-I use well-made sunglasses.
-I do not suffer.
-I laugh out loud every day.
-I walk or exercise at least three times per week.
I- hear well and protect myself from loud noises / concerts / music.
Money
-I currently save at least 10% of my income.
-I pay my bills on time.
-My income source/revenue base is stable and predictable.
-I know how much I must have to be minimally financially independent and I have a plan to get there.
-I have returned or made-good-on any money I borrowed.
-I have 6 months' living expenses in an easily accessible account.
-I live on a weekly budget which allows me to save and not suffer.
-All my tax returns have been filed and all my taxes have been paid.
-I currently live well, within my means.
I have excellent personal insurance. (Life, accident, disability, medical etc.).
-My assets (car, home, possessions, treasures) are well-insured.
-I have a financial plan for the next year.
-I have no legal clouds hanging over me.
-My will is up-to-date and accurate.
-My investments do not keep me awake at night.
-I know how much I am worth.
-I am on a career / professional / business track which is or will soon be financially and personally rewarding.
-I rarely miss work due to illness.
-I am putting aside enough money each month to reach financial independence.
-My earnings outpace inflation, consistently.
Relationships
-I have told my parents, in the last 3 months, that I love them.
-I get along well with my sibling(s).
-I get along well with my coworkers/ clients.
-I put people first and results second.
-I have let go of the relationships which drag me down or damage me. ("Let go" means to end, walk away from, declare complete, no longer be attached to).
-I have communicated or attempted to communicate with everyone whom I have hurt, injured or seriously upset, even if it wasn't fully my fault.
-I have a circle of friends/family who love and appreciate me for who I am, more than just what I do for them.
-I am fully caught up with letters and calls.
-I always tell the truth, no matter what.
-I receive enough love from people around me to feel good.
-I have fully forgiven those people who have hurt/damaged me, intentional or not.
-I am a person of his/her word; people can count on me.
-I am aware of my wants and needs and get them taken care of.
-I try not judge or criticize others.
-I am trying to not "take personally" the things that people say to me
-My personal files, papers, and receipts are neatly filed away.
-My car is in excellent condition. (Doesn't need mechanical work, repairs, cleaning or replacing)
-My home is clean and tidy. (Vacuumed, wardrobes and drawers organized, desks and tables clear, furniture in good repair; windows clean).
-My appliances, machinery and equipment work well. (Fridge, toaster, lawn mower, water heater, hi-fi etc.).
-My clothes are all ironed, clean and make me look good. (No creases, piles of washing, torn, out-of-date or ill-fitting clothes).
-My bed/bedroom lets me have the best sleep possible. (Firm bed, light, air).
-I live in a house/flat that I love.
-I surround myself with beautiful things.
-I live in the geographical location of my choice.
-There is ample and healthy lighting around me.
-I consistently have adequate time, space and freedom in my life.
-Nothing in my environment harms me.
-I am not tolerating anything about my home or work environment.
-My work environment is productive and inspiring. (Synergistic, ample tools and resources; no undue pressure).
-My computer works very well and fully supports my efforts.
-I back up my hard drive at least monthly.
-I surround myself with music which makes my life more enjoyable.
-My bed is made daily.
-I don't injure myself, fall or bump into things.
-People feel comfortable in my home.
-I drink at least 2 liters of water a day.
-I have nothing around the house or in storage that I do not need.
-I am consistently early or easily on time.
Well-Being
-I rarely use caffeine. (Chocolate, coffee, colas, tea) less than 3 times per week, total.
-I rarely eat sugar. (Less than 3 times per week).
-I rarely drink alcohol.
-My teeth and gums are healthy. (Have seen dentist in last 6 months).
-My cholesterol is at a healthy level.
-My blood pressure is at a healthy level.
-I have had a complete physical examination within the past 3 years.
-I do not smoke tobacco or other substances.
-I do not use illegal drugs or misuse prescribed medications.
-I have had a complete eye examination within the past two years.(Glaucoma check, vision test).
-My nails are healthy and look good.
-I have no habits which are unacceptable to me.
-I consistently have evenings, weekends and holidays off and take at least four weeks of holiday each year.
-I have just the right amount of sleep.
-I use well-made sunglasses.
-I do not suffer.
-I laugh out loud every day.
-I walk or exercise at least three times per week.
I- hear well and protect myself from loud noises / concerts / music.
Money
-I currently save at least 10% of my income.
-I pay my bills on time.
-My income source/revenue base is stable and predictable.
-I know how much I must have to be minimally financially independent and I have a plan to get there.
-I have returned or made-good-on any money I borrowed.
-I have 6 months' living expenses in an easily accessible account.
-I live on a weekly budget which allows me to save and not suffer.
-All my tax returns have been filed and all my taxes have been paid.
-I currently live well, within my means.
I have excellent personal insurance. (Life, accident, disability, medical etc.).
-My assets (car, home, possessions, treasures) are well-insured.
-I have a financial plan for the next year.
-I have no legal clouds hanging over me.
-My will is up-to-date and accurate.
-My investments do not keep me awake at night.
-I know how much I am worth.
-I am on a career / professional / business track which is or will soon be financially and personally rewarding.
-I rarely miss work due to illness.
-I am putting aside enough money each month to reach financial independence.
-My earnings outpace inflation, consistently.
Relationships
-I have told my parents, in the last 3 months, that I love them.
-I get along well with my sibling(s).
-I get along well with my coworkers/ clients.
-I put people first and results second.
-I have let go of the relationships which drag me down or damage me. ("Let go" means to end, walk away from, declare complete, no longer be attached to).
-I have communicated or attempted to communicate with everyone whom I have hurt, injured or seriously upset, even if it wasn't fully my fault.
-I have a circle of friends/family who love and appreciate me for who I am, more than just what I do for them.
-I am fully caught up with letters and calls.
-I always tell the truth, no matter what.
-I receive enough love from people around me to feel good.
-I have fully forgiven those people who have hurt/damaged me, intentional or not.
-I am a person of his/her word; people can count on me.
-I am aware of my wants and needs and get them taken care of.
-I try not judge or criticize others.
-I am trying to not "take personally" the things that people say to me
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