Why are you here? Why are you doing all this? Whats the point?

I wanted to work as little as possible, before I had kids, so I was a handy man who built fences and decks or repaired fascia boards. Anything outside to avoid going into peoples homes and having to deal with the conversations and smells that come with working with people.

But I was only 19 when I had my first child and needed more money to support the immense cost I was told would come with raising one. Then I had another only 18 months later. I was forced inside to garner enough to pay for a bigger house and a nicer car. I didnt want their mother working or to put them in day care so I sold more of my time in return for stuff.

I worked days fixing peoples problems and nights driving a wrecker; weekends tending bar and listening to those tired from their week of working for whatever it is they fantasied would one day lead to something better. It was only a couple of years before I was working the same hours but now for clients and employees who all depended on me to be the best General Contractor to solve their problems; most of them working hard to take as much of my money as they could manage.

I was 29 before I knew it and had missed a lot of my boys but somehow managed to have enough to impress others with my big office, company trucks, multi-state clients, and a way of making things happen. I made decent money, but the dune buggies, motor cycles, and bass boat were trophies sitting and waiting for me to have time for them; along with my boys.

Their mother was done with my long hours and missing events before I turned 30; but I was proud that I had forced her into schooling that would make her a very good check. Sad for my boys who had to split their time between two people who where always splitting their time. I still thought I was doing well and felt good about the path I had set us all on.

I had few real friends or time for those that still called me one; my clients loved me but I didn't have time for much more than grand openings of their latest project. It was only when I wanted time away or to make what I thought I deserved that I learned it was what I made them that mattered; not who I was.

By 32 I decided I was done and sold it all, and at a great loss of the wealth I had built in an effort to save my sanity. I moved to the country and bought a place that needed work but it had tons of trees and a pond. I spent the next year doing handy-man work again. This time for family and the few who still called me friend but only in between the time I spent with my boys. I enjoyed the working with my hands, I always have. I enjoyed the bonfires and spent little time on plans for the future and none on regretting the past.

The last ten years I have spent fixing problems of others, but now only on my own terms. I buy things that need fixing or partner on deals where my value is clear. I had fixed 1000's of properties before but this was different. I had no client asking me to cut corners or zero's off my pay. I did the parts I like and hired people I liked to do the parts they loved. I no longer seek to fill my time with efforts but instead look to reward myself with being something more than a tool to feed others. I no longer want to be rich and somehow the wealth continues to build. The crowd carried me like a leaf in a stream farther away from who I was and what I wanted out of life. Thankfully I looked around and saw where I was going before it was far too late. Now I soak and float along the edges and let the stream of people going by bring me their problems to solve.