DISQUS

You sound just like my 21 yr old son, who is living @ home with us, while he finishes college (electronic communication).
Anyhoo ... he is forever creating in his computer with Blender & Python.
When he has completed something - he hunts me down in the house to show me his new animation.
The joy in his eyes is freakin awesome - I love it!!!!
And you know what?
His creative spirit combined with his drive & focus, is what keeps him off drugs and out of trouble (even though many of his friends have taken that path).
I know he is going to be fine in this world, because as with you, creating is the fun he prefers!

Terrific Post :-)

I feel bad for your kids ... a public library can be such a good experience for them. For you & your wife, is there an University library you can get access too? That might be a good option!

Also - here are a couple of links for donating gently used books:

*The Half Pint Library will bring your old childrens books to sick children. For more info., call 800-883-2114 or check out http://halfpricebooks.com

*And if you have adult books, the New York's Prisoner Reading Encouragement program would love to receive them. For more info., call 212-349-6741 or log on to http://prisonreader.org

I like all five bullet points ...
An interesting website to help with #5 is http://www.global-mindshift.org/
:-)

Oh Brip Blap ... it's so weird that after a couple of months being absent from the blogosphere I come to your posting now. 9-11 was a terrible act of human aggression & violence ... and I empathize with what New Yorkers went through. My community & state is suffering through destructive & devastating floods right now ... and a couple of weeks ago a horrible tornado FLATTENED our neighboring community of Parkersburg. Luckily my family was spared - but I have family and friends WIPED OUT. They have lost everything. There is a profound sense of violation ... such a sense of no control ... I'm confused & speechless to all that seems to be happening in the world these days ...

What a blessing for your children, for you both to be able to be home with them - Awesome!!!

My boys went kindergarten through 6th grade at a Catholic school. We then switched them to public school, so they could start middle school with the rest of the kids. Our choice for the religious school was due to a poor quality elementary school in our neighborhood. Not particularly for the religious education. But I have to say it was an excellent experience. There was such a sense of family and community in this school. They were also able to focus on a lot of things public schools aren't always able to address. For example - character, morals, and values. It was a nice support system to what we as parents were trying to teach at home. Hubby & I are Christians - but also have a huge respect and thirst for knowledge of all the world's religions... (I don't think God has one particular zip code). O.K. drifting off point there - so fast forward... the boys are 20 & 23 years old now. Neither one identifies themselves as Catholic & neither one attends a church. But both have a strong belief in a higher power. And they do tell me that they are happy we had them go to that school. So long story short - I think the positives outweigh the negatives at a religious school, especially balanced with good communication with the parents.

Personally I think your point on "You having to figure out what you believe," is the relevant thing. Having kids kind of force us to define ourselves clearly... otherwise we turn into the "Do as I say - Not as I do," type of parents...

You'll be fine & your son will too... it's all about the love! If he is surrounded with love - he's a blessed little guy!!!

If he really is a hero -
Did you ever get to meet Nash?
What did you think of the film w/ Russel Crowe portraying him?
I think it would be so incredible to meet a personal hero...

Smiling is HUGE...
It makes you feel better & everyone around you feel better.
People seem to have a very small quota on the amount of smiles they are willing to share in a day. Have you noticed that?
I am basically a pretty shy individual - but try to smile throughout my day & it can really make a huge difference in my attitude, as well as people I come in contact with.
Like you said in the beginning of your post - it's free... (and it makes us all a little bit sexier)!

I read the foreclosure piece you listed - I understand there are some unscrupulous lenders out there. But I don't understand people's inclination to blame it all on the lenders. What happened to "personal" responsibility? Most of the people in trouble bought way more house than they could afford... it seems like nobody wants to "work" their way up anymore. What ever happened to a starter home? Or as we call them, a fixer-upper? I just don't understand the blame everyone but ourselves attitude - it boggles my mind.

People that dwell in the past, never seem too happy to me :-(
I have always been of the frame of mind, you can't change it - so why complain & whine about it. (Plus - I try to frame everything with a sense of appreciation and gratitude).
Life is sweet ~
Make money, have a good time, and help others!

Your posts always get me thinking~
I know when I was younger, I was afraid of "getting rich."
Especially since my new in laws were rich and they scared the heck out of me. I was afraid hubby and I would end up like them!
It's only since my late thirties and now my forties that I've realized there is nothing to fear from money. Money is just a tool - a means to an end.
As long as we balance our quest for financial wealth with our quest for spouse/family/friendship wealth - it's all good.
Those of us that do achieve "rich" or even a step further, to "wealth" should feel honor bound to give or serve others. Otherwise it seems like we end up lost - and what good does the financial blessing do?

I need to read this book - and I appreciate the exercises you have listed to define my purpose. I had a well-defined purpose for the first half of my life ( early childhood education / rental properties ). But now at this point I'm so ready for something new - a new direction and like you stated... PURPOSE!
Thanks for the post - very inspiring for me!

I am happy for you -
I like your site because you write like a real person -
Somebody that keeps growing and learning -
And can help others along the way!

I don't know the actual quote, or if it even was a quote - but I remember being taught that a true sign of intelligence & manners was being able to communicate in a way that the listener can understand. And your 100% right - I think, on people wanting to keep their power. We humans are a power hungry bunch - aren't we!

I had never watched that silly television program before - but I found that episode to be quite fun! Thanks for the mention - I appreciate it bunches!

I was on the same line of thought as RetiredSyd. I don't think the point is all about "Original Ideas" but more about presenting an idea in a way that will speak to people. We all tend to hear what we want to hear - sometimes it's a certain author, musician, or politician that connects with us as individuals. I wouldn't say there is a whole heck of a lot of "originality" in any of our current presidential candidates - but Obama seems to be delivering his message in a way that people are hearing it. I think the same holds true with writers - if they hit it at the right time in the right form... crazy success. Like J.K. Rowling - stunning success. I believe if we approach our work authentically it will resonate with people.
And dude - you are totally right on the buckets off free info available on the web. It's an amazing thing!

Thanks so much for link...
And gosh I hope your boy feels well, soon!!!
I know it sounds insane - but sometimes I miss all that. (Not the scary part of having a sick child... just the dependent/caregiver - child/parent loving part). They grow up so quickly. It just seems like yesterday my two boys were that age battling the various bugs they picked up at preschool and such... Now there in their 20's. Yikes it really goes by so quickly!

Interesting discussion...
Don't you think "brutal honesty" is sort of self-indulgent? I think that a high level of honesty is necessary in life, but am not really an advocate of brutal honesty. I have only been brutally honest once in my life. It was at a point in my marriage when my husband had a substance addiction problem and was not taking steps to help himself. We were on a slippery slope to self-destructing our entire family... and I had to look him straight in the eye and say, "I will love you till the day I die and I don't want to be with anyone else, but I would rather live alone than spend one more day with you doing drugs." It was the hardest thing I had ever said in my life! But very long story short... he has been clean for over 3 years and we will be celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary this year. :-)

Involvement in the political process relevant for all...
And like you said, it affects our finances more than we may care to acknowledge.
Participation is key to making the changes we need in our economy.
Congrats on taking the time to participate by voting...
I would prefer you vote for Obama, but I will also assume your Republican, so anyone but Romney!

I have a totally different background in real estate.
Hubby and I bought our first property straight out of high school. We duplexed it out, got a tenant for the upstairs, lived in the bottom. Eventually we bought a separate residence... but we never stopped purchasing rental houses, even being a part owner in an eight-plex.
It was fun, we learned a lot, and made some good money over the years.
I personally think the real estate market isn't a disaster from investment property purchasers, as much as homeowners that couldn't afford the homes they purchased...
That said, I do agree that knowledge is important when purchasing properties. But, a little learning along the way, is ok too.
And you are totally on the money with location, location, location.
I also think you have to have a certain comfort level with the whole "landlord" thing...

I studied Kyokushin Karate when I was in grade school and junior high. Breathing correctly was the first thing they taught us. There is a lot of power in our breath. Nice post...

I admire your independence ... I am a bit more conventional than you ... but, my husband and I have made some choices in how to use the space in our home, that causes family and friends to look at us funny. We have an open dining room / living room area. I emptied the dining area and turned it into my mini gym. My treadmill and weightlifting bench are in there, instead of the traditional table and chair combo. It works fantastic for me ... I have developed a consistent work-out ethic, that I just couldn't achieve with the stuff shut away in a closed-off room. We also have choice to set up our computer and printer area in our kitchen. It rocks! If one of us is cooking ... the other can be on the web ... and we are still able to engage in conversation and shared time together. It's fun to not follow convention to closely ... it's our individual life ... and what works for us is o.k. Even if other people might stick their nose up at it!