Freedom

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom.  ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

On MLK day, I wanted to find some words of wisdom from the great man himself. Obviously, he was talking about a different kind of freedom back in the 60’s when he said these words, but they actually apply to any kind of freedom that we are seeking. Debt-freedom requires continuous struggle as we balance long-term goals with the excitement of the moment. Financial freedom (defined as not needing to work in order to support yourself and your family) requires a struggle to save and to spend less than we make. Freedom from financial worry and stress requires our constant vigilance to stay on top of bills and expenses, track our spending, and try to live within our means.

Freedom of any kind requires us to stay vigilant and focused on the long-term rather than the short-term. It is always easier in the short-term to do nothing, to worry about it later, and to take the easy road as we go along with friends to eat out rather than cooking at home or pay for conveniences rather than do it ourselves.

As you think about the kind of freedom that you desire, what struggles do you need to overcome? How can you straighten your back and work to overcome those difficulties? For most of us, our financial difficulties are but a drop in the bucket compared to the freedom that King fought for so let’s not let these struggles weigh us down. Let’s face them head on and do what we need to do to shrug them off forever and get on with the more pressing things that the world needs.

As I think about the incredible impact that Martin Luther King, Jr. had on the world, I am eternally grateful that he struggled through his adversity and brought about change that betters all of us. We have come a long way from where he started and we still can do better. Much has been achieved but there are still struggles for too many. We all need to work harder for our freedom in whatever form that takes and face whatever struggles must be overcome.

Thank you, Dr. King, for all that you gave, for the wisdom that you left with the world, and for your vision of how it could be. May we all continue to see that vision and work to free ourselves from whatever holds us back.

To your financial freedom,

Tana