I was helping my landlord while he was working on the hot water heater at our house. Even writing that sentence seems strange to me. Thinking that we had a landlord, instead of owning our home. With two of our ‘children’ in their twenties and out of the house and a third heading to college in a month, choosing to downsize really was the right move, but being in a rental property hadn’t even been a thought.

However, I have come to realize the degree of freedom that we now have. We’ve lived here a year now, and are on a month-to-month lease and can pretty much pack and go anytime we feel like. Haven’t had that option in over twenty years. Our rent is about half of what our mortgage payment was and mowing the lawn turned from a three hour job into a half hour. (With about a six month mowing season, that is saving 65 hours of my time, and I’m sure a few dollars in gas)

Why am I sharing this? It’s not to brag that I am a renter. It’s frame of mind. Two years ago I would have thought that renting was a poor choice, throwing money away instead of building equity. Perspective. Advantages can be found in any situation, but sometimes we don’t even consider the options that we have. That can be where coaching or a mastermind group comes into play. That can bring “fresh eyes” to your situation, and your fresh eyes can help someone else’s circumstances.

We often feel like we are trapped in the thing we call our life, but you aren’t stuck without options. Sometimes the options aren’t easy ones, or even ones that you can see. Maybe it’s getting rid of the Lexus and driving a Honda. That might be an easy choice. Harder might be realizing that some of your friends are holding you down and it’s time to move on without them, or without them being a large part of your life. Harder still is realizing that perceptions we hold about ourselves and our circumstances are mostly in our own heads. You can take that Honda to the carwash and pressure wash away the dirt that has built up over time, but where do you go to clean out the garbage that can fill your head?

Rob Britt