A One-Derful Life with Mary R . Dittman , MBA contributing writer
I reached a point where I decided freedom was more valuable to me than this one asset .
I owned my own home ( by myself !) for eighteen years . For at least the past 5 years , I frequently joked that I fantasized about returning to renting because I was overwhelmed and tired of the burden of home ownership . I seriously considered selling the house last summer , but decided to focus on more pressing projects . However , this past January , I contacted a Realtor “ just to see ” what my options were . Well , to make a fairly short story even shorter , we listed the house and only 10 days later had a contract for my full asking price !
Many of my friends have questioned the soundness of this decision . After all , I teach business and have consulted many individuals and businesses regarding profitable financial strategies . It ’ s true that I no longer have an asset associated with my monthly housing costs , but I also have no debt whatsoever , and I do have something even more valuable to me than a house : I have my freedom . ( By the way : many of my girlfriends ’ husbands have lauded my decision and wistfully dream about the free time I describe now that I don ’ t have a lawn , a roof , or a crawlspace .) believe most people want to feel free . We want more money because we think it will bring freedom ; we want freedom to do what we want to do without being judged ; we even want to feel free to eat whatever we like without gaining weight . Regardless of your specific desires , here are some areas where we can all use some more freedom :
1 . Freedom from constraint . For me , the house was like a 1,700 square foot anchor . It required a lot of time and money to keep up the house , and I didn ’ t enjoy the constant repairs and projects that were endlessly piling up . It had become more of a burden than a blessing ; more weights than wings . What is your anchor ? Maybe it ’ s a job where you feel stuck or a relationship where you aren ’ t valued . Maybe it ’ s fear of speaking your truth or worry that you ’ ll be judged if you follow your heart ’ s desire . Before you just “ cast off ” whatever you feel is constraining you , be sure that the costs actually outweigh the benefits . But if they do , start taking the steps to free yourself from what is constraining you .
For me , owning a house by myself was a constant exercise in anxiety ( what ’ s going to go wrong next ?), overwhelm ( there ’ s always some major repair or upgrade that needs to be done ), and loneliness ( a constant reminder that I had a house with a yard , but no family and no children ).
I reached a point where I decided freedom was more valuable to me than this one asset . Maybe selling a house isn ’ t part of your quest for freedom , but I
2 . Freedom from clutter . You ’ ve heard this one a thousand times before , right ? But clutter really does enslave us . And not just physical clutter ( like those closets that need to be cleaned out ) – how about relationships in your life that you have outgrown ? How about the health issues you aren ’ t dealing with ? How about the debt or the dust bunnies or the debilitating mental dialogue that is constantly dragging you down and stealing your energy ? What is no longer serving you that you need to get rid of ?
68 AUGUST 2017 SHEMAGAZINE . COM