In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age
of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this
financially independent lifestyle, they invite you
to take advantage of their wisdom and experience. |
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Just Say "Yes!"
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli
“Here, try this.”
“Oh, no thanks. That’s ok. I'm good.”
It’s so easy to say “No” to new things. We
get comfortable in our lifestyle, our viewpoints, and in our expectations.
Trying something new just upsets the applecart. And who wants to do that?
We have our favorite hangouts, the foods we
like the most, TV shows we prefer, and our cherished ideas of how our future
should be playing out… But meanwhile, Life continues to offer us alternatives
that don’t fit into our plans, so we say “No.”
Loving the new brought us here to
Panajachel, Guatemala
Being afraid of the new
It can be frightening to place ourselves in
novel situations, meeting someone out of our social circle, or even trying out a
new menu item. And it sounds so silly or even annoying to suggest “Just say Yes to
Life!”
I would venture to say that most people don’t
realize they are resisting anything at all. Circumstances in their lives might
be comfortable – or not – but the last thing that would occur to them is to open
up to the new. The human tendency to dig our heels in creates a feeling of
stability that can be very attractive.
As humans, we want what is dependable,
something we can count on, the predictable. If things are spelled out, we know
what’s in store and we pretend that we can build on a physically firm
foundation.
The desire for security is strong in all of us and there is nothing
wrong with that inherent need. This motivation propels us to build cities,
hospitals, schools, -- whole societies.
However, the longer we live, the more we
recognize how
Life shakes
us up whether we wish for it or not. Children leave
home, divorces happen, illness makes its appearance, financial circumstances
change. We get to the point where “new” means something risky or regretful.
Better to stay with what
we know.
It’s safer.
What if change was
beneficial?
Going through major changes in our lives can
be tricky. We will often find ourselves hanging on to familiar ways of doing
things but perhaps those choices no longer work in a new situation. We hang on
because it’s the devil we know and because it feels safe.
Retirement means change
If you would like to retire any time soon,
chances are that this decision will require you to say “yes” to lots of new
things while letting other things go. There is no way to avoid this because you
will be moving into the new. Perhaps you will be
looking at relocating to a more
affordable city, state or
even a different country. Unless you spend your retirement in the
same town in which you are currently living, weather patterns will probably be
different. The places you shop for groceries, places you go for entertainment
and maybe even local customs could be a contrast to what you considered to be an
everyday experience.
One of the benefits of being
financially independent is the
option of opening doors that you did not have access to previously. Maybe you
didn't even know they existed.
The more you say yes, the more new things
will come. Saying yes requires
a sense
of adventure, a sense of possibility. It
also requires
personal flexibility. Staying flexible helps to keep us mentally
fresh, physically vigorous.
Akaisha opens up to our human family all
over the globe
Moving into the extraordinary
While on occasion you might find that these
choices are challenging, but they can also be inspiring and fill a mundane
living style with more energy. The ordinary can become extraordinary.
Being in exotic surroundings, perhaps
learning a language, meeting interesting people outside of your previous
neighborhood and generally being open to happenings that aren’t routine all
cause your brain to adjust. You must now think differently, combining novel
information and patterns with what you already take for granted.
This process is
very healthy and can make you feel more alive, even younger.
A different perspective
Are you exhausting yourself by pushing
against a situation that you might have outgrown? Why not open up to fresh
opportunities and unfamiliar circumstances? Or at least not desperately hang on
for dear life. When was the last time you did something original or untried?
In loosening our grip onto routine - even just
a little bit - allows Life to become a continuing educational opportunity,
bringing with it unexpected rewards.
Why limit yourself? Open up to the new and
find hidden treasure waiting for you.
Go ahead.... open up that door.
What's Your Number? - How much money do you need to retire?
About the Authors
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are
recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on
topics of finance, medical tourism and world travel. With the wealth of
information they share on their award winning website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com,
they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since
1991. They wrote the popular books, The
Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your
Retirement Dream IS Possible available on their website
bookstore or
on Amazon.com.
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Lifestyle
Retire
Early Lifestyle appeals to a different
kind of person – the person who prizes their
independence, values their
time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly
follow the crowd.
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