Happy New Year!
It’s that time of year when everyone is in new-year-new-me-here’s-my-list-of-resolutions-like-to-hear-it-here-it-go mode.
That’s cool. I honestly have no idea what my resolutions were last year or if I even had any. However, looking back, a few good things did happen in 2019.
1. Paid off School Loans ($20K)
I know $20K is a fraction of what some folks owe, but I went through a relatively affordable MBA program ($40K) and paid the first $20K out of pocket.
I learned that making $20K go away with two swipes of a debit card is the fastest way to feel rich and poor at the same time. One day I’ll write about my journey toward paying it off, because I was actually on a completely different path at one point in 2019.
2. Continued My (free/low cost) Education
There are so many things that I’m interested in learning about. Some of them are somewhat new to me, and others are subjects I’m familiar with but just want to know more, and get better.
One thing that is fairly new to me is investing in the stock market. I’ve been at it for about a couple of years on a small level, but it was in 2019 when I became eager to read a lot more; soak in hours and hours of video content, and invest more.
I also decided to learn more about digital marketing and am in the process of getting several certifications. Some are free. Some cost a little bit, but it’s nothing that will force someone into soul-crushing debt. I’ve had professional experience in digital marketing in the past, but I want refreshers, and so far it’s going well.
We’re in a digital world. Content is king. So what’s the point of having this big head and no crown? I love to create content (written, graphic and video). I hope to create more of it, and come up with effective content marketing strategies for myself and others.
I understand that publishing on New Year’s Day might not be the best strategy, but I needed to get this out. … For me. #selfcare
3. Closed a Useless Bank Account
Most major banks have similar accounts. There was a time when I had a nice amount of money in a savings account.
However, with paying off my student loan and investing, that amount got smaller and smaller, and I would get charged $12/month for not having a certain amount in the account.
Nah. Naw. No. Nope. Nihil.
That’s wasn’t going to work for me. When I went to close the account I thought I would get some baby-don’t-do-this-I-can-change spiel. To my surprise, there was none of that. It was actually the smoothest transaction I’ve ever had at a bank.
I now have several accounts with an online bank with no fees and a better interest rate. I use each account differently. I still have a checking account with a traditional bank, but we’ll see how much longer that lasts.
4. Bought My Dad a Birthday Gift
My dad and I don’t normally buy each other anything, ever. Don’t get me wrong. We’re good. We usually call each other on all the expensive days. I guess we’re both frugal like that.
This year he switched things up and passed down something to me that had some sentimental value. I’m not telling what it is, but here is a summary of how that day went.
Me – Picks up package at UPS
Me – Opens package in car in the parking lot
Me – “Wooaahh! This freakin’ guy! You gotta be kidding me.”
Me – Calls dad
Me – “Duuude! This is too much. Are you serious?”
Dad – “Yes. Also, I’m not dying.”
Me – “That’s good to hear, and thank you.”
Me – Hangs up phone
Me – “This is awesome, but now like, how can I top this, and is this going to be a thing now?”
Me – “I can’t top this. … Gotta go for style points here, because we are clearly working with two different budgets.”
My dad is a pretty simple guy: good food, good music, a decent car and 1980s-1990s NBA Basketball.
When I was a kid he took me to the All-Star Game when it was in Miami, and I got to see NBA legends up close (not really, but I was in the building).
Our seats were in the sky, and I don’t mean “skybox”.
Keep going until your ears pop. You’re in row ZZZ. Here’s a napkin for your nosebleed.
East All-Stars
Note: Michael Jordan (#23) of the Chicago Bulls is a billionaire and majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets. He has often said the person who was the toughest to play against was the gentleman next to him, Joe Dumars (#4), of the Detroit Pistons.
West All-Stars
Note: Kevin Johnson (#7) of the Phoenix Suns went on to become the Mayor of his hometown of Sacramento, CA. The NBA’s all-time assist leader is John Stockton (#12) of the Utah Jazz by an air, sea and landslide.
I won’t name all these gentlemen, because the amount of legendaryness (legendary-ness?) in the photos is already causing my computer screen to flicker.
… Jordan, Magic, Bird, Pippen, Hakeem the Dream, ‘Nique, Chuck, The Worm, Reggie, The Admiral, Clyde the Glide. … So many more.
There’s so much more I can say about this group of overachievers, like the fact that when Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and a bunch of others want to improve their back-to-the-basket/inside/low-post game, they reach out to Hakeem Olajuwon (#34, West) of the Houston Rockets for training.
Hakeem was known for the “Dream Shake”.
I can tell you Hakeem didn’t have the most power, but what he did have was a very particular set of skills. Skills he had acquired over a very long career. Skills that made him a nightmare for people like David “The Admiral” Robinson. If you let him go by you that would be the end of it. He would not look for you. He would not pursue you, but if you didn’t, he would look for you. He would find you and he would kill you. … Good luck.
Olajuwon is considered by many to have the greatest low post moves of anyone who’s ever touched a basketball, but I digress.
Back to the All-Star game.
I often tell my dad how much I loved that All-Star experience, and that if I ever have a kid, I’ll make sure to pepper in experiences like that.
So, what does this have to do with the gift?
My dad’s all-time favorite player is Clyde “The Glide” Drexler (#22, West). At the time he was with the Portland Trailblazers.
Me – “Ok. … We got something to work with.”
Me – Googles “how much does Clyde Drexler charge for hugs and how to get him to give my dad a hug and tell him that he loves him and that he is the best”
Google – “Your search – how much does Clyde Drexler charge for hugs and how to get him to give my dad a hug and tell him that he loves him and that he is the best – did not match any documents.
Suggestions:
- Make sure all words are spelled correctly.
- Try different keywords.
- Try more general keywords.”
Me – “Thanks for nothing.”
Me – Googles “Alphabet company worth” (Alphabet = Google’s parent company)
Google – $900 billion
Me – “And I can’t get one Drexler hug and a declaration of love to a complete stranger?!”
Me – Googles “NBA memorabilia”
Me – Cries
Me – Googles “Affordable NBA memorabilia”
Me – Still cries but a little less after doing some digging
I managed to find an autographed version of this Clyde Drexler basketball card from that All-Star game we went to. It came in a case with some certificate of authenticity and all that jazz. I knew he would like it, and he did. … One of the best purchases I’ve ever made.
5. Got Baptized in the Colorado River
I had been toying with the idea of getting baptized for years, but. … I don’t know.
I have moments when I feel at home speaking to a group of 70 people for eight hours at a time and other moments where I want to be in the back corner wedged in between the janitor and a vending machine with a hoodie, mustache and sunglasses on.
I needed to do this for me.
When a church I attend said they were having baptisms in the river I thought (selfishly) that it would be pretty cool and different to get baptized that way. Walking to the river was an emotional experience in itself.
Me – Wow! The river is so beautiful. I’ll never forget this day.
Me – Gets in river, looks down.
Me – “What. … Are. … Those?” (And not in an I’m-making-fun-of-your-shoes way)
There are A LOT of critters in the Colorado River. I saw about four species of animals I have never seen in my life on Sunday, October 6th, 2019.
So. …
There is a lot I didn’t accomplish in 2019, but I’m proud of what I was able to get done. This list contains just a few of the highlights. I’m looking forward to what 2020 has to offer.
I hope it brings some more work/life balance, because I really want to feed the creative me. That was definitely a challenge all year.
Whoever You Are
I appreciate you taking time to read this. I hope 2020 brings you success in your: work, inner peace, personal finance, family, friendships, mental health, physical health and overall happiness.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for reading.
Aurelio, Part Time Adult