I'm seeing a lot of uncertainty posts.
The other day I posted my feel-good rags to riches story. It was met with a lot of haters, or people saying I was BSing. But honestly, this is the internet and Reddit, the idea that only struggling people use it is silly. Many of the biggest investors in the world have come to this sub, they just never posted. The idea somebody can do fairly well but be met with hate and denial is so incredibly silly.
I want to re-iterate my story for those of you who are facing uncertainty. Maybe you had $1k to your name. Maybe you have been facing desperation. Maybe you have lost those you love. Maybe your doctor gave you the worst news ever and you're trying to find something to leave those you love. (My dad knew he was dying and was upset he had nothing to leave us, so, I think about him and people who are like my dad.)
My post was that I made some money. A pretty good amount of money from my frame of reference. And I think my frame of reference is pretty average. I did above average, but it came with a price. But the point is, it wasn't handed to me.
Anyway, I am reading posts from people 20 years younger who have taken a hit. Here are some things I want you to know.
First, in 20 years, whatever you think is a lot now, won't be, don't stress over it. Your earning potential increases with age and money decreases in value. It is better to lose $10k today than lose what $10k would be worth 20 years from now.
I have ties to university. Some of these “kids” graduate with $120k in debt. Somehow, they make it and do very well. So maybe you lost $20k since April, well, honestly, you might be getting more for your money in a lesson that the person who has $40k/year in student loan debt.
If you are in the United States, if you ever actually cannot afford to pay your debts, you can file bankruptcy and restart. Personally, I'm successful, I've made some money. I do NOT have the balls to take a risk that could require bankruptcy. So, if my risk-averse behind can make a lot, yet you are comfortable with risk, technically you are in a better spot to leapfrog me.
When you actually start making good money, it no longer is real. It becomes monopoly money. It becomes a tool. It's really weird to me to this day, to think like this. But really, if you have some money, most people don't, so you can do things that require money.
But if you lost your money. Well, you are a risk-taker and risk takes who make it get rewarded. If you give up, well, you never make it and you were right when you gave up, you didn't make it. But, if you don't give up, you may fail, but eventually you may make it.
And when you make it, you will look back on life and the thing that made you wonder if it was worth it, and you will be glad you valued living.
The funny thing is, if you hit this point and put life before money, you no longer care about money. But you are authentic and that is worth money. If you put money before life, it becomes hell. So, while I value making money, I see wealthy as becoming a person of value. That is hard to take away.
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