#Gratefull #Freedom55

I learnt a long time ago that if you stop growing, you will become stagnant and start feeling dead inside. Sometimes, the people that you are with, are so scared of growing that they would much rather try to keep you down than allow you to flourish and shine. They do this because they don't understand that things can't ever stay the same. Nothing does. From a rainbow that hits a picture frame just right, to a puppy that grows into a dog. Water that glistens in the rays of the sunshine and then 6 months later covers the ground so that it all can be reborn in the spring.

I always made a joke that I was going to retire at age 55. I can't remember what insurance company used to use the slogan freedom 55...not important. What is important, is that slogan means so much more to me now. It isn't about retiring. It isn't about be financially free to do what you want to do.

My freedom 55 is to be able to see everything that is in front of me with gratitude. To spend my days pushing myself for growth of some sort, no matter how hard that can be some days. It is about never staying stagnant. I may still be working for a living. I may still have some days where I am putting in 16 hours to get a job out the door....But because I spent the time to actually get to know myself, I have never felt more free.