Freedomizing

**Conquering Ironman Coeur d'Alene: A Journey of Resilience and Family Support** The fusion of family and determination can transcend any obstacle. This was our mantra when my cousin, Joel, and I embarked on the Ironman Coeur d'Alene journey, championed by his parents, Barb and Dan, our steadfast cheer squad. Our adventure began on a Friday morning in Spokane, where I was welcomed by Joel, Dan, and Barb. Together, we strapped my bike box onto the car in true hillbilly style and set off to Coeur d'Alene. On the day of the race, nerves mingled with excitement. The first hurdle was the 2.4-mile swim. An unexpected calf tweak and leaking goggles made the swim challenging, even more so when I had to fix my loosened timing chip mid-swim, floating belly up. Yet, I emerged from the water with a personal record, an optimistic start that filled me with determination. Transitioning to the 112-mile bike leg, I was welcomed by an unfamiliar cramp in my hip and a seat post that had desce...

Recently, I had an experience that reshaped my understanding of the psychology of money. I took over a property management job where part of my payment came in physical cash, money previously directed to someone else for this task.  Most tenants paid digitally or by check, but one unit always paid in cash. Having that "management" fee/ maintenance fee tangible, in my hand, ignited a unique perspective. It wasn’t about the amount, but the form in which it arrived.  Sure, I could take a full-time job earning in excess of $10K a month. However, that wouldn’t necessarily change my life as it would only take more of my time, the one resource I can't regenerate.  Surprisingly, the extra $1K in cash monthly had a more significant impact, not because it was a windfall, but because it made me more mindful of my earnings. The physicality of cash and the process of earning it manually introduced a sense of value and respect for my work that was somewhat abstract before.  This p...