I want to tell you another story.
My post “A Story Of One Of My Failures“ generated a good response from readers. So I thought it would be a good idea to do a follow-up. But this time instead of talking about my failures, I’ll elaborate on a few of my successes and better decisions.
I’m not one to brag, but thought such a post could offer some encouragement and maybe even a few tidbits of advice for others. Actually this wasn’t my idea, but was suggested in the comments of that post. Thanks Prepared ND.
First off, my definition of “Failure” may well be different to that of most people. I see failure as nothing more than a learning experience — and if you have learned something, how can it really be failing?
Failure has led to my greatest successes.
After losing my job and selling off most of my assets, I was forced to start over. I had hit bottom. I could have given up. But I kept going.
Even after the wife left and divorce finalized, I refused to give up. In fact, I think her leaving made me even more determined to get back on my feet.
To answerer Prepared N.D.’s question; “what’s the best decision you ever made?”. I think my best decision and greatest success is being able to live off-grid on land that I own. No mortgage, utility bills or strings. It took a bit of adjustment and a lot of work but I’ve never regretted it.
I have always been interested in homesteading even at an early age. I would read Mother Earth News (this was back when the magazine was worth reading) spending most of my days dreaming of someday getting “back to the land” as so many others I’d read about had done.
But as I got older life got in the way. My dreams were smothered by marriage, bills and stress, but still in back of my mind, I held to that dream and never let go. I guess some things were just meant to be.
I believe with all my heart, that people would be happier and healthier if they would stop worrying about what everyone else has and live their life as they see fit without worry of wealth or what someone thinks of them.
Unfortunately most people think there is no other way to live. But there is, and you can do it if you want. I suggest you read this book.
I think my second best decision and biggest success would have to be this blog. I started with zero readers, zero subscribers and zero income. Now I average just over 3,000 visits per day with over 1,200 subscribers and make my living solely from the income generated from this site.
Things I’ve Learned
- Never Give Up
- Blogging Is Hard Work
- Sometimes Dreams Do Come True
- You Don’t Need A Lot Of Stuff
- The Ex-wife Was No Loss
- Four-Wheel-Drive Is A Must
- Silence Is Great
- Money Isn’t All That Important Freedom Is
- Most Of What We Have We Don’t Need
What about you…
What’s the best decision you ever made?
{ 17 comments }
My best decision was to quit druggin, quit drinking , and finding Jesus. When I became a Christian , the lord brought me a woman to love a job I love and a life I’m happy and content with. I know you don’t want to turn this into a witnessing blog m.d. , but I would be remiss not say those where my best decisions. Every other decision I’ve made, good or bad, pales incomparison.
#1 Taking control of my health.
#2 Quitting my 9 to 5.
Those decisions allowed me to finish several side projects and gave me the time to focus on slashing bills and becoming progressively self-sufficient. I also get to spend more time with family and practice different skills. I could not believe how much stress I was under while in the rat race, it’s a night and day difference.
Well done. I started over, but later in life and had a bit of a cushion to make the transition easier on my family.
I was a banker for 30 years, chucked it all, and started my own emergency prep and firearms instruction company. I’ve never been happier.
Perhaps a bit more stressed, as I don’t get paid unless I teach (!), but the upside is well worth it.
A piece of property and an off-grid set-up are next in line – hopefully in 2 years or so.
The best decision I made was to move out of a town where the houses were so close you could hear your neighbors breathing if you opened your window. About 10 years ago I purchased 18 acres in rural Michigan, where the pheasant, turkey, deer, and water fowl are plentiful. My nearest neighbor is over a half mile away. I now raise steers, hogs, chickens (eggs & meat), ducks, goats & turkeys for ourselves and sell some of the excess to make extra money. I have 30+ fruit trees and a good sized garden. I have a gun range in my back yard to keep my skill level up. And finally one of the best decisions I have made was to subscribe to this blog site. MD you are a wealth of information
Did anyone else notice Rawles re-posting articles from Creekmores blog?
Sea Salt–An Indispensable Commodity for Uncertain Times, by Roxanne Griswold
Was posted here a week ago now Rawles has it posted on his site.
That article was on a number of sites. I found 4 of them myself.
The author of the post likely submitted it to both blogs.
There’s no question that the best decision I made was to get out of the city. Survival in the city at teotwawki would have been close to zero. I did learn a lot about compactness and prioritizing as an urban survivalist, but when bugging out or evacuation is your primary tactic, your odds of survival are low. It took a lot of work and sacrifice, but I got out of the city.
Best decision; joining the military (active) at age 19. Led to a lot of international travel (overseas most of the 90s), used the GI Bill through grad school, a new career, a lot more international travel, and becoming an officer (reserve). The military always instills something, at least if you’re doing it right. Seeing a good bit of the rest of the world does as well.
A runner up was getting PRK (laser eye surgery similar to LASIK, but no flap); not having to worry about being damn near literally blind w/o glasses is priceless.
I’ll second the eye surgery. I had one similar to cataract surgery, replaced my lenses with artificial ones when I was 15. It’s great being able to do things without worrying about losing or breaking glasses.
Getting a job when I was eighteen that required skill and responsiblity. OT pay and benefits didn’t hurt. This required staying healthy so I mastered that years ago. Next was staying out of debt and keeping a good reserve. Last was retiring when I was 55 afew months ago. The rat race is over,the rats won.
THINGS I’VE LEARNED- Raising kids is hard work. Most wives are a pain in the ass. Four-wheel drive is expensive to fix. Money keeps the kids close. Mother Nature is a bitch.
I’ve learned that the more you remove yourself from society and its expectations, the more content you become. I sold both the new cars we had and bought old used ones with cash. We got rid of our brand new house in the suburbs and moved into a manufactured home in the country on junk land. We got rid of satellite tv and now we read books. The list goes on and on. Basically I have found that the more you “unplug”, the more you find what life really has to offer. Right now I have a cup of coffee and I can hear doves cooing in the tree in my front yard. Five years ago I never would have heard that. I would have been watching Sportscenter with all the windows closed and the air conditioner on. Now we don’t even use AC and just hope a nice breeze comes along to cool the house down. But on the plus side I can finally hear the birds.
I admire your decision to do what you did. I, unfortunately, was never in a position to do that. On the other hand, your comment reminds me of my sister’s experience while she was living at my small place up in the mountains. A storm had knocked out the power while she was reading a book. She lit a lantern and sat back. An hour later the power came back on and the hum of the refrigerator and other things was so annoying that she threw the switch on the main power and went back to reading by lantern light. She now has an organic farm that is off the grid not more than 5 miles from my cabin. Nice!
Best decision I ever made – working for myself.
Worst decision I ever made – working for myself.
My best two decisions were
-Working as an EMT for 4 years in both rural and very urban, dangerous settings. There is no better way to learn about human behavior than to be the one they look to in their worst moments, or the person that is running in the opposite direction as everyone else.
- Starting a business. It’s amazing how when you free your mind and think of the world in terms of supply and demand instead of trading your time (your most valuable resource) for someone else’s benefit and a salary that you have no control over, you see the world differently.
I have not made it yet.
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