Freedom Being born just an hour from Independence Day, I’d like to think I have a strong drive to live a free life. Going to school we were taught the horrid truth of slavery between nations. I would think to myself, “WOW, I am so glad I didn’t have to live through that!” Then the thought years later occurred to me. I AM A SLAVE. I walked into the perfect trap set up by the system that runs our country. There are many forms of slavery and in this situation it is financial slavery.
Here is the Typical Trap We go to school to get good grades to go to a great college to get a great career. Along the way, we find that we “need” a car and get ourselves a lovely little car payment. Then we get our school loans, but that’s OK because we have 5 years before we have to start paying on them and we are sure we’ll be rolling in the dough by that time. Some of us even decide that we aren’t going to work so we can really focus on school. That’s OK because we can just roll those expenses into the school loan. Somewhere along the road we find ourselves in love. We want a big white wedding. Uh oh….the parents aren’t fronting the bill? That’s OK, we can charge some of the items. Now it’s time for a home with a cute little mortgage and how ’bout starting a family in a few years? That’ll do the trick. Then how about a few vacations to “get away from it all”. Or perhaps we feel so trapped or depressed we end up spending more money just trying to feel good. So, with this typical plan we find ourself with an auto loan, a couple credit cards, a mortgage, some student loans and heaven forbid we have any medical bills. It can take a lifetime to pay it off and ya know, that’s exactly what they want you to do. 😉
Debt = Slavery I was financially dumb. I learned the hard way. I definitely won’t put my kids in that state of ignorance. Why is it that personal finance is not mandatory in our public school system? Simply because there is too much money to be made from people who are financially ignorant. It’s time to take our finances into our own hands, because credit card debt is another form of slavery. Ignorance is not bliss, never has been, never will be.
My Story With Debt I have personally experienced financial distress. I started feeling “grown up” with my very first credit card at 18 when I started college. My first year, I received 2 credit cards and a car loan. Over the next few years I had accumulated over 13 credit cards and 2 private loans. At the time I was an exotic dancer and felt that I could pay off each card at any time. Well, not much later I was pregnant and no longer able to continue dancing. So I went from about $13,ooo (over 12 years ago) a month to NOTHING. If I was smart I really could have put that money to good use rather than blowing it on who knows what. I stopped paying on all my credit cards and boy was I in a mess for about 10 years. Now I am out of the bad credit zone, but have accumulated some debt. It’s amazing how just a small amount of debt can wear at one. It’s like a little itch that you just can’t get rid of.
Debt & Spirituality As Wayne Dyer says,”Debt is decidedly unspiritual” and I couldn’t agree more. It blocks the connection to spirit. Perhaps it has something to do with tension and tightening the DNA (as discussed in a previous blog: Science of Miracles) which closes us off to miracles.
Here is a documentary on financial slavery called “Maxed Out”. Hope you enjoy it.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Now if you are still thinking about credit card debt. Read this article that I just received today.
New Credit Card Laws = Consumers getting screwed (again)! Americans with the best credit may be hurt the most as the first phase of a credit-card reform bill takes effect tomorrow. Lenders are raising rates across the board, The market has changed so much in the past six months that many consumers shopping around for new cards will have trouble finding a better deal,. You may be better off holding onto your cards until the market settles down. Rates are about 20 percent higher than in December with the lowest median rate at 11.99% now, compared with 9.99% in December. Another stab in the consumers back is that those who choose to reject a rate increase within 45 days will have two options at the banks discretion — to pay off the balance in five years, or double the current minimum payment! Banks have been raising rates on consumers at the same time that their own borrowing costs are decreasing, giving them bigger marginal lending rates and more profits, is all this part of that “spreading the wealth around”? Credit will continue to be less available, borrowing limits will be lower and consumers will pay more. In addition, there will be more annual fees, higher fees for balance transfers and cash advances, and pared- back rewards programs. They (the credit card companies) are lowering limits and closing accounts to reduce their long-term risks. Banks have already implemented parts of the credit card law and some of the major lenders have dropped “universal default”, the practice of raising interest rates based on a missed payment with another company and have stopped double-cycle billing where lenders calculate finance charges based on more than one billing cycle. So I guess we all need to keep a weary eye on our statements and perhaps the only way to get even is to stop doing business with those companies that are the worst. Even at the cost of lowering our credit scores! Sad affair is it not?
A Great Solution by Dave Ramsey
I was directed to Dave Ramsey by my friend, Dhrumil. He has so much information out there about debt and living on cash only! Listen to this great call.
Can You Scream, “I AM DEBT FREE!”? I can’t right now, but I am getting close. I have until January until my car is fully paid off. I have made the commitment that I would keep my car until I could pay cash for a new one. Aside from that I have one credit card with a balance just over $9200. Earlier this year I had 3 credit cards, but this was the highest balance. I also sold my home. My children’s father was looking to buy a home and I was looking to sell mine. It just seemed that the timing was right. The cool thing is that my kids get to stay in the same home that they have lived in the past 4 1/2 years. So it was a super simple transition. Little by little I am chipping away at my debt. Pretty soon I will be looking at accumulating wealth through multiple streams of passive income. I’ll post more on that another time.
For me this is about getting myself out of all the little traps that I have created and walked into. Whether it is my health, my finances, my relationships, my career or so forth. It’s about breaking free and living a life without boundaries and limits. It’s about discovering and living true freedom. I think I am done breastfeeding off the system if you know what I mean. 😉
Sustainable Relationships Loving my life unconditionally Loving the people in my life unconditionally Loving myself unconditionally
Sustainable Health Living clean & lean on raw foods Rocking an able & athletic body
Sustainable Service Getting turned on- being passionate Making love all day long- doing what you love with intention & focus Sharing my voice
Sustainable Income Generating multiple streams of passive income through providing genuine value Casting a vote on the world I want through how I spend my money
Sustainable Home Life Living in paradise: clean fresh air, plenty of rain, warm year round weather Growing my own food however simple or exotic Caring for the Earth as I do my body
Sustainable Growth Learning, exploring, dreaming, doing, defying limitations, laughing, loving, celebration, and gratitude, having fun
Ok, I love to know what awesome people are up to. I know twitter is an awesome way to get mini updates without requiring much time at all. Online social networking is accelerating so fast.
So, considering I have devoted more time recently into an online presence… I thought to myself…Why not twitter myself?
So, to those who may find it interesting to see what I am doing…. come and check it out!
This was the very first song that came on in the car when I went to take my kids to gymnastics. How freaking appropriate is this? Love who you are. Stop trying to please others or find approval in others. This song is contagious! No wonder it’s number one on the charts right now. Awesome message!
So watch out…..cuz I am living my life for ME….like it or not, it isn’t for you. If you don’t like what I am doing… work on your own life. We are who we are. Embrace it, make the best of yourself, and rock out!
Be thankful for where you are and what you’ve got!
(Rihanna): You’re gonna be a shining star, fancy clothes, fancy car-ars. And then you’ll see, you’re gonna go far. Cause everyone knows, who you are-are. So live your life, ay ay ay. Instead of chasing that paper. Just live your life (Oh!), ay ay ay. Ain’t got no time for no haters. Just live your life (Oh!), ay ay ay. No telling where it’ll take you. Just live your life (Oh!), ay ay ay. Cause I’m a paper chaser. Just living my life (ay), my life (oh), my life (ay), my life (oh) Just living my life (ay), my life (oh), my life (ay), my life (oh)
(T.I.): Nevermind what haters say, ignore em ’til they fade away. Amazing they ungreatful after all the game I gave away. Safe to say I paid the way, for you cats to get paid today. You’d still be wasting days away, now had I never saved the day. Consider them my protégé, homage I think they should pay. Instead of being gracious, they violate in a major way. I never been a hater still I love them in a crazy way. Some say they sold yah and no they couldn’t even work on Labor day. It aint that they black or white, their hands in areas the shades of grey. I’m West side anyway, even if I left today and stayed away. Some move away to make a way not move away cause they afraid. I brought back to the hood and all you ever did was take away. I pray for patience but they make me want to melt their face away. Like I once made them spray, now I could make em put the k’s away. Been thuggin’ all my life, can’t say I don’t deserve to take a break. your would rather see me catch a case and watch my future fade away.
(Rihanna): You’re gonna be a shining star, fancy clothes, fancy car-ars. And then you’ll see, you’re gonna go far. Cause everyone knows, who you are-are. So live your life, ay ay ay. Instead of chasing that paper. Just live your life (Oh!), ay ay ay. Ain’t got no time for no haters Just live your life (Oh!), ay ay ay. No telling where it’ll take you. Just live your life (Oh!), ay ay ay. Cause I’m a paper chaser. Just living my life.
(T.I.): I’m the opposite of moderate, immaculately polished with the spirit of a hustler and the swagger of a college kid. Allergic to the counterfeit, impartial to the politics. Articulate but still I’ll grab a nigga by the collar quick. Whoever having problems with their record sales just holla ‘tip. If that don’t work and all else fails, then turn around and follow ‘tip. I got love for the game but ay I’m not in love with all of it. Could do without the fame and rappers nowadays are comically. The hootin’ and the hollerin’, back and forth with the arguing. Where you from, who you know, what you make and what kind of car you in. Seems as though you lost sight of whats important when depositing them checks into your bank account and you up out of poverty. Your values is in disarray, prioritizing horribly. Unhappy with the riches cause you piss poor morally. Ignoring all prior advice and fore warning. And we mighty full of ourselves all of a sudden, aren’t we?
(Rihanna): You’re gonna be a shining star, fancy clothes, fancy car-ars. And then you’ll see, you’re gonna go far. Cause everyone knows, who you are-are. So live your life, ay ay ay. Instead of chasing that paper. Just live your life (Oh!), ay ay ay. Ain’t got no time for no haters Just live your life (Oh!), ay ay ay. No telling where it’ll take you. Just live your life (Oh!), ay ay ay. Cause I’m a paper chaser. Just living my life (ay), my life (oh), my life (ay), my life (oh) Just living my life (ay), my life (oh), my life (ay), my life (oh)
Got everybody watchin what I do Come walk in my shoes And see the way I’m livin if you really want to Got my mind on my money And I’m not goin nowhere So keep on gettin your paper And keep on climbing Look in the mirror and keep on shining Till the game ends, till the clock stops We gon’ post up on the top spot Livin the life, the life In a brand new city got my whole team with me The life, my life I do what I wanna do I’m livin my life, my life I will never lose, I’m livin my life, my life And I’m not stopping
Something feels sooooooo good about starting a new blog. It reminds me of the first day of school with brand new rings of paper and pencils ready to fill the sheets. I suppose an introduction would be appropriate ; ).As you know, my name is Lori. I am 32. I currently live in Southern California and will be relocating to Hawaii in April 2009. I am a single mommy of 2 kids. My son is 12, my daughter is 10. I am very close with the children’s father. We are committed parents. At my kids events the other parents think we are still married since they usually don’t see ex relationships getting along.
Together, we alternate homeschooling. WOW, what a shift. Transforming and I am amazed I took on that challenge. I am so glad that I did. It was what felt right for us. It is only my second year doing it. I hope to continue.
I am a self employed Health and Wellness Practitioner. I couldn’t imagine it any other way. I feel a deep connection to my purpose and that is my work. I suppose it is the most stable “job” one can have. You can’t exactly get fired from your purpose. It is born into you. Talk about job security…LOL. 🙂 . My purpose is to move from inspiration to action. Hence my screen name: Inspire2Act. Pretty simple. Sometimes it stays in the head…but, what’s the point if no action is taken? My passion is to inspire others to act in ways that are worthy of them. I have a background in massage, personal training, nutrition, purification, rehab and physical therapy, day spa, beauty, and green living (check out: http://gliving.tv/).
Self reliance and empowerment are deeply rooted into me. It is something I wish to maintain and deepen and inspire in others. I wonder of being born 1 hour from Independence day has anything to do with it? ; )
I LOVE being a woman. I love the femininity, the beauty, the curves, the softness, the smell, the WORKS. I am thankful I have been given this body and I am honoring this body temple that houses my spirit. I love being alive!
Here are some projects that I am into:
1. Turning my cookie cutter track home yard into an edible landscape. I feel a strong sense to empower myself through making my property have a purpose. This includes every plant I own :). Productive and purposeful and efficient. I don’t exactly have the rep for being an amazing gardener, but I am passionate and thirsty to learn. I love http://pathtofreedom.com/ . They inspire me. I attend their events and film screenings and potlucks. Once I am up and running I am going to help others establish their own edible landscape and homestead. This is a great site to connect and have support: http://freedomgardens.org/.
2. Learning how to make yummy raw food. A few years ago I was going to attend CIA in Napa (Culinary Institute of America) until I realized there was no correlation with nutrition and gourmet food at this facility. Hence, my hunger to learn gourmet raw food :). The journey has begun! Raw food culinary geniuses: Wish me luck ; ). For everyday raw stuff I check out: http://www.welikeitraw.com/ .
3. Physical fitness! I am deepening my yoga practice. I have been doing yoga since I was 15. It was never consistent and regular, but I loved it still. I have decided to commit to it. I feel it is the most neutralizing, balancing, and healing form of exercise on the planet, but that’s just me. It truly enhances all the fun activities I enjoy like dancing, snowboarding, and surfing, and gymnastics. I really love being creative with the body and having fun. A workout is only secondary to the fun factor!
4. I’d love to learn to play the guitar and the piano. I have a piano in my front room and don’t know how to play…so sad. 🙂 Chopsticks anyone? My kids and I just started guitar lessons. What a hand workout!
5. To realize a book NEVER feels finished. I just need to publish it already! I suppose an artist may always want to tweak his final painting. I have written in the fields of self development and empowerment through conscious living, health, wellness, beauty, purification, diet, green sustainable living practices, etc.
6. I love retreats I would spend my life traveling the world just to see them all, so why not start this way? Like minded people, please respond ; ). I am working on holding retreats that are informative and inspirational as well as FUN!!!! I would like to set them up by seasons. Perhaps a snowboarding raw yoga retreat in winter. A surfing raw yoga retreat in summer. Spring and Fall perform purification retreats. A place to decondition old paradigms and get back to the version of our authentic self.
7. I love fine nude art. Those black and whites of sculpted physiques are mesmerizing. Our lives and bodies are our own work of art. I find this beautiful expression: http://www.fineartnude.com/webring/
8. Complete a 92 day juice feast. I have only done 2 week liquid cleanses. Check out: http://www.globaljuicefeast.com/ . Wow, what a commitment.
9. I am very interested in living debt free and below my means. I have lived a life of debt and found it to be very low calibrating in consciousness. It is a burden that weighs the spirit down. As Wayne Dyer says” Debt is nonspiritual“.
If you are running through life feeling overwhelmed and not really making the impact you know you want, or wishing you felt alive and filled with passion then you are going to LOVE me!
