This post is 1,018 words, a 5-mins read.
I want you to say this to yourself:
NOBODY IS COMING TO SAVE ME
It sounds harsh but it's a truth that we all need to accept. Far too often we believe that if we just wait long enough someone will bail us out of our worst situation.
Unfortunately, that isn't reality. That is a fantasy.
Let's run through a real-life example.
2020
Then Vice-President Biden is running for president. One of the key items on his platform is on making education more affordable and less cripplingly on the financial lives of so many people. He focused heavily on the burden of student loans. A key standing point of his election message was on Student Loan Forgiveness.
It was received with high praise from everyone. Remember, during this time student loans were on deferrance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Interest was not being charged to the balance of loans and no payment needed to be made. It was a picture-perfect story for anyone with student loans. You get the benefit of Trump's debt relief and if Biden wins you get your loans wiped off the table.
Of course, people held off on making payments on their loans. Even if their loan was much higher than the $10,000 forgiveness Biden promised. It made financial sense to not pay a 0% interest loan. You let that thing ride and you use your money for more important investments.
But that's the thing, most people didn't use the newfound money to make investments in a Roth IRA,401(k), pay off credit cards or other loans. Nah, people used this as free money to spend on whatever they wanted. 😔😤😓
End of 2020, Biden smokes Trump's in the election. Everyone celebrates democracy's survival. Student Loan Holders celebrate in the belief that their loans are gone. Even those with more than $10,000 forget the rest of their loans and join in the festivities.
Spending explodes in 2021 with a new term being coined “revenge spending”. As people emerge from their COVID caves and back into regular life. But everyone waits for Biden to make the announcement on student loans. Nothing was announced in 2021.
2022
Then Biden decided in 2022 to give everyone (well student loan borrowers) an early Christmas Gift. In August 2022, Biden Drops this announcement.
I follow up with this video.
Almost as soon as the announcement was made, Republican-led lawmakers sued the Biden Administration concerning the forgiveness. The lawsuit goes all the way to the Supreme Court. Who promptly strikes it down.
All the hopes and dreams of so many people were crushed in a matter of minutes.
Then the Supreme Court followed with a curb stomper to end the lives of all the hopeful borrowers. They that student forbearance to be unconstitutional. Forcing the Biden Administration to restart student loan payments.
2023
Bringing us to the present DAY. Loans were reactivated on September 1 with interest being charged again and the first payment due date being October 1st.
Unfortunately, most people are in an even worse position than if student loans were never paused. Because they made major life commitments with the seemingly newfound extra cash.
Many people bought houses without factoring in their loans.
Major car loans were taken out
Credit Cards were run up with trips, clothes, shoes, food, electronics, furniture, etc.
Most people are like a bride being left at the altar.
Hopes and Dreams just got Thanosed away.
Not only is the bride getting emotionally wrecked. She also has to deal with all the ramifications of life plans that had been made with the fiance. She is left with the cost of the wedding. The financial obligations they agreed upon post engagement.
So I'll say it again:
NOBODY IS COMING TO SAVE YOU
You cannot wait for things to work out perfectly for you.
You cannot depend on perfect timing or a perfect plan.
You cannot wait for someone to magically have the perfect answer for you.
You cannot wait for some politician or manager or insert a high-position person to be your get-out-of-jail-free card.
You cannot wait to make the right connection that will open the door for you.
NO
If you want to see something change, BE THE CHANGE.
Make the decisions that will get you to where you want to be. Do the hard things that no one else wants to do. Even if you make a mistake along the path, you'll learn from it and move further faster.
Take back control over your life! Don't look for someone else to take responsibility. You take responsibility for your own life. Take ownership and take the blame.
When you begin moving through life with an understanding that for the most part, everything is on me. Then you experience the freedom to try things. You stop waiting for permission and force decisions to be made.
This does not mean you do not seek or receive help or advice. That would be foolish.
Because at the end of the day, this is your life. You have to live with the results. I personally have chosen to live with results that I choose rather than results that were handed down to me.
Recently, a Bible verse has just been standing out more and more to me and I think it's really on point for this conversation. It is harsh but I believe it holds a lot of truth
Wealth attracts many friends,
But even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.
Proverbs 19:4 NIV
Nobody is coming to save me,
I have to save myself.
Remember GENEROSITY > greed
✌🏾
Recommended Reads
Jack Raines, Career Advice for His 22-Year-Old Self. It is aimed at a younger version of me and it is still very applicable for me. Share with anyone you know trying to figure out life.
Morgan Housel, Intelligence vs. Smart. Not everyone who is intelligent is smart. Some people are not intelligent but are smart. Those people tend to surprise people with their successes. Morgan Housel explains why.