Self control

     I think that one of the most important things we need to learn while we exist on this earth, is self control. You know what I'm talking about. We need to control what we eat, drink, say, or do. Everything that we do matters, maybe not to us but to someone. As most of you know, I have been working on the Dave Ramsey plan and it's going okay, it could be better but I'm continuing to work on it. I have had some wonderful thoughts come to mind and I just wanted a place to write them down even if no one else pays attention.
    I remember about 15 years or so ago, how certain family members who seemed to be wealthy, made me feel angry. I had the nerve to think "how dare they flaunt all their vacations and nice things that I don't have". I had one long and good pity party for myself and it lasted maybe 2 years until it finally dawned on me that the only reason I felt like that was because I was envious and I knew that by having those feelings, I was wrong and I needed more self control with how I viewed things. (It turned out that they weren't wealthy after all, they were living on credit). I eventually realized that it wasn't really the money or nice things they had that I wanted but instead, I wanted to have the freedom to do more with my family. Dave Ramsey always says that "You have to live like no one else now in order to live like no one else later on". Family is the most important gift in our lives and if we don't prepare our financial house than we have failed them. I am making as many financial sacrifices now as I can so that maybe someday, I will be able to feel free from the bondage of always owing others money, have a reasonable savings account and not be a burden to my children when I am old. Maybe one day, I will even be able to take a family vacation of a lifetime but if not, then I will be content in knowing that I acted to preserve my future instead of just sitting around and waiting to be acted upon.