There is the kind of wall that creates space for you to do good work. There is also the kind of wall that limits your movement. I’ll tell you about one of mine.
I grew up thinking that I was special. And because I was special, life would be pretty much automatically awesome. Because I was special, I didn’t need to learn or do the same things as other people. So I didn’t go to university after high school. I didn’t learn how money and investing work.
I lived in a safe, protective cultural bubble. Inside that bubble, life was awesome and I was special. I got good jobs. People looked up to me. I met and married Christine. It was all good.
Then what happened was Christine and I had a stillborn child. That kind of tragedy is not supposed to happen when you are special. Not long after, the economy in my bubble fell apart. My special life became very difficult.
My mid-20s were hard. I would not like to live them again. But a wonderful thing happened during that period. I realised I am not special. And that realisation opened a door in the wall around me. I found I was free to learn and do the things that ordinary, not special people do. I love that freedom. I love that space to move in the world.
What walls did your upbringing build around you? (They are probably different than mine. Believing you are not special can be just as limiting.)
I did go to university eventually. I loved it so much. I’m STILL learning how to do money. It’s not something I’m naturally talented with.
Fontaines D.C. have released the deluxe version of Romance. This is perfect example of a deluxe album track.
Grow slowly
Jeff
My husband and I ate tofu. We were runners. We married, worked, and traveled the world for 7 years, anticipating that when we were ready, we would have children. After a very unexpected miscarriage (wait, now…we’re healthy! How could that happen?!) we didn’t conceive until five years later, all the while getting poked and prodded and tested and doing several expensive IVF treatments. A five year wait. Not fair. (But I thought we were special!) It was a tough time for we Big Manifesters. I dropped the assumption of being blessed. We finally had healthy twins. A boy and a girl. It’s a story of stepping down out of the Special Zone.
I think you’re special, Jeff. You remind me of Jagger. I thought I was special in the first years of life. My brother died and I was sad. I was an A student which kept my dad happy but not me. I studied with Buddhists in high school and changed lanes for life. I got happy and have sought peace ✌🏽 and joy every day since.