Play Your Own Game
My dad has been out of town for about 2 months. He came back to Florida today and stopped by my house to visit. Before he left, he said to me “Your house looks great. I’m so proud of you.” On top of that, after they left, he called to tell me “You played your own game. And you played it well.” I guess unless you truly know my dad, you don’t know how out of the ordinary this is. He doesn’t walk around praising other people for their life choices and the way things turned out for them. He thinks everyone should do things just the way he has and that is the only way to have things turn out well.
Two and a half years ago, I remember sitting with my dad and my hubby and I telling him our plan to buy a fixer upper, pay cash for it and do the work ourselves. He thought we were crazy, totally insane and were going to end up upside down and backwards in trouble because of our crazy ideas. He has admitted defeat. We played our own game. Did things our way and it worked out okay. We bought a house that made him want to throw up in his mouth a little and made it an amazing cozy haven for myself and family. I can truly say there is no greater reward than him coming here and sitting comfortably and telling me that I did okay. It may not have been conventional, it may not have been expensive, it may not have been elaborate, but I have lived my life my way, played my own game and here I am, holding up my trophy and saying I did it! I have made it on my own terms.
This is how we should all live life. Playing your own game. Live life the way you see fit and the way that makes sense and works for you. Personal finance is just that - personal. We all have to make our own way with what we know and what skills and knowledge we have. There is no one answer. One person may be comfortable investing in real estate while another prefers individual stocks and another mutual funds while other people just love playing the frugal game and others a combination. There is no one answer for everyone.
That’s the fun and beauty of life, that we have choices to make and there are so many probable outcomes but what matters is that we find what works for each of us. We all have to find what make us happy and allows us to have fun and make the best of what life has to offer within our own comfort level. We all just have to play our own game.
May 29th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Great post - it is nice when our parents let us know they’re proud of us, no matter how old we are.
You also said what I was thinking in regards to personal finance - it’s personal. Everyone has their own thoughts on what is best, what kind of risks they’re comfortable with, etc. I’ve been thinking about this the past couple of days, but you really crystallized it for me. thanks!
May 29th, 2008 at 8:58 am
I bet that felt so good to hear. I know that any praise I get from my dad is like gold to me.
I have been thinking about this, too. Should I do things the way my parents did just because they are financially stable in their 50’s and 60’s now? Does that mean they have the secret “formula”? I kind of feel like what worked for them might not work for me (because of mine and my husband’s personalities and lifestyle), because I don’t want to be a working woman right up into my late 50’s (like my mom) at a job that isn’t so rewarding but pays the bills and gives me a cushion.
I think we can take bits and pieces from our parents’ financial ‘wisdom’, but I think I am like you and want to go the way I see fit for my husband and I. Besides, “leave and cleave”, right!?! =)
May 29th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Great post…awesome thoughts on walking life the way that works best for you.
May 29th, 2008 at 11:22 am
What a great post. You made me cry again. lol. I’m proud of you too.
You are so inspiring.
May 29th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Great Post Emily! and Congratulations - I’m sure it was a wonderful feeling to hear that from your dad!
May 29th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
I love reading your posts and this one is no exception. It takes courage to play your own game and have faith in your convictions. Bravo!
I have taken a different path than most also and one that is very different than my parents. I was told more than once that I would fail. I’m so glad that I didn’t listen, but continued to march to the beat of my own drummer.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
How wonderful that your Dad took the time to let you know his pride in you. As someone who has often taken their own path in life, I say bravo to you as well!
May 29th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Very good to hear. Husband and I are also veering from my parents’ path and I think having them give us that compliment someday would be one of the most meaningful things I could ever hear. It’s important to live for yourself, but that doesn’t it’s easy to be different.
May 30th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Hats off to you!
May 30th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Wow. That must have felt SO GOOD.
I am proud of you, and yes - you should be proud of yourself.
June 1st, 2008 at 2:57 pm
[...] at Remodeling This Life talks about how to Play Your Own Game. It’s a personal story about the challenges and rewards of picking your path in life. It [...]
June 1st, 2008 at 3:41 pm
This post makes me think of Frank Sinatra’s song “I did it my way”. I think that if you succeed according to conventional standards but it’s not what you really wanted to do with your life, you haven’t really succeeded at all. So yes, you have to be brave enough to do what you want, regardless of what others may think initially of what you’re doing. I’m glad your dad recognized your success.
June 19th, 2008 at 9:05 am
[...] remodelingthislife presents Play Your Own Game posted at Remodeling This [...]