Climbing Out One Family’s Adventure in Becoming Debt-free

If it were tangible, is this what momentum would feel like? In my soul 2010 already tastes like a great year.

It’s hard to put my finger on why, but after starting 2009 at the bottom and watching our lives turn around, 2010 seems to stretch ahead of us full of promise and I’m excited.

This year I want to connect with The Wife even more, be a better friend and colleague, and pay off debt. Those are quite general goals, but the specifics are posts unto themselves. Instead of elaborating, I want to pass on some of my inspiration.

Today I share with you three blog posts that helped get me in the mood to embrace this year.

Don’t be an intolerant doofus

First, from One Writer’s World: A New Year, A New Goal.

This really hit home with me as I found myself becoming less and less tolerant of others instead of more accepting. Less tolerant of stupidity which really is just another way of saying less tolerant of people who do not think and act the way I believe is right — or, don’t think and act like me.

I have made a conscious effort to allow myself to enjoy people’s views, statements and differences. It has already made me not only happier, but a better friend, colleague and, perhaps, person.

Go to bed with your wife even if it’s ridiculously early

Rachel at Small Notebook hit home with something I’ve been struggling with since getting married: How a Night Owl Became an Early Bird and Liked It.

That is SO me. The Wife has, more than once, berated me for not coming to bed with her for days or weeks while I stay up late working or, more often than not, working until 9:30 then needing to “wind down” with a 2-hour long movie.

Most recently she told me she wanted a husband, not a roommate. Needless to say, I took Rachel’s post to heart. It will be a tough (and some weeks, impossible) change, but I’ve had roommates before and never really liked ‘em. Plus, The Wife is really hot.

Debt is dumber than ever

Lastly I thoroughly enjoyed How Debt Fools People from Phillip Brewer.

I love his excellent succinct treatise which, at its core, speaks to the opportunity cost of taking on debt and the danger of not calculating risk when lured by a low monthly payment.

So today I am energized and excited. I feel like we spent 2009 pushing back on a huge boulder that is now rolling in earnest. It is moving with a force that is bumping into other aspects of our lives and its momentum is infectious.

Cheers, 2010, you don’t scare me. In fact I couldn’t be happier to meet you.

the Dad