Boundaries, now there’s a fifty cent word. I don’t if I should like it or hate it. It’s one of those evil necessities, I guess.
I was talking to my running buddies and one was trying to define it in action.
“So it’s like peeing around your trees to mark your area?” I replied.
They laughed at my description, but agreed boundaries are exactly like that. Some days, I just wish it was that easy to have boundaries.
When people ask me, ‘How do you become debt free?’ My go-to answer is focused discipline. Since that is so hard to define, maybe I should say, boundaries.
Learning to tell your self, your spouse, your kids, and others, NO, is 99% of every battle. No matter how you slice it…delayed gratification is a booger bear. Who wants to put off feeling good?
Here’s some examples of a life without boundaries…
Getting to swimming lessons late, because let’s face it…my life is more important that anyone else’s.
Chocolate always tastes better when I’m on a diet.
Those cute name brand sandals look better when I pay full price, who cares if I have to put it on a credit card.
That spur of the moment vacation to Mexico at peak price was really worth it. It’s such a waste of time to shop around.
That banjo I bought cause it ‘almost’ had the sound I was looking for is still just killer…well kinda.
And finally, when it comes to kids… That new gaming system, latest cell phone and brand new car will make you smarter, more popular at school. Besides, I can’t stand the thought of not giving you the very best.
Actually the brainwashing mantra ’you deserve it’ has been repeated for so long people actually believe it. Truth is….
My neighbors who I’m sharing this journey called life with, respect me more when I respect their time, too.
My waist line and self esteem like me better when I make a snickers bar last a week, savoring one bite at a time. (Or until Ben finds my stash. No. Sniff. I’m good. *Shaking* I’ll be fine.)
The hardly used name brand sandals I found at a garage sale for a dollar are rockin’. And my kids think I’m a rock star for having enough blow money left over to hit happy hour at Sonic.
Our family vacation to the Black Hills of South Dakota was one of the best connections with my kids, husband, other mom and God that I’ve had for a long time. Relationships are something I can’t put a price on.
God bless him, my husband, Ben, the free spirit and big spender has never bought a banjo, gun or otherwise without lots of planning and thoughtful thinking about whether or not his family was taken care before he commits to the purchase.
And my favorite. It’s fun to watch our kids puff up and say, “It took me FOR-EV-ER to save my commissions to pay for this PSP. Then it took another FOR-EV-ER to save enough for the game I wanted. I’ll probably be really old, like 35 when I’ll have enough for a car.”
The pride that comes with boundaries is priceless.
It’s a good thing they can’t be bought, or I would tell Dave Ramsey to pound sand again and would be broke. Busted. A boundary-less loser, just like I usually am. But, for now I’m having a good week day hour.
Got boundaries?
Simply,
Sis
Tags: a life with boundaries, a life without boundaries, boundaries, debt free living, simple life, simple living
