BTW it would be a shame if we felt that we had to “phrase [our Life's Purpose] in terms that OTHERS find honorable or admirable” … a wasted life, perhaps?

I think it’s important that when we (generic “we”) are trying to say “this is what I really really want to do and why” that these statements are challenge – not just here and for us, but anywhere and anytime these things occur.

Oftentimes we all have vague wants and desires, we also want to phrase those in terms that others find honorable or admirable, or at the least, acceptable. Trying to root out (and down) to what is really the driving force is difficult for most folks. Any of my challenging comments are meant to do just that.

Simply because Lee is an expert in doing this for others doesn’t mean he can do it for himself. We all suffer from “not being able to see the forest for the trees” when we grew the trees ourselves.

I find that I cannot often express to others what I feel, but feedback gives me insights into where I am “muddy” and helps me rethink about what it is that truly matters and to figure out what it is I am trying to say – the words used may have been wrong.

There is also the possibility that – in the manner that brainstorming works, one bad idea begets some good ones – that someone here may have information that can help one of us do something that we didnt’ have information about before. For example, I say something that isn’t “on mark” but it triggers a reader who thinks “not exactly, but what about…” and they post something, and then someone else chimes in with their thought, and all of these generate some good information that helps the original poster think more clearly about something that was still a bit fuzzy to them.

I always wonder, “Is there another way to make this work than the way I am thinking of?” and which I didn’t have to wonder, but already knew the best way to do something. I have to content myself with knowing ANY way to do something and hope that I don’t end up spending too much dealing with the learning curve.

1. Costs: The ‘black and white’ – as you put it – of how it might translate to money or money equivalents (time and/or ‘things’ to be acquired), and

2. Commitment: How well does the ‘black & white’ seem to tie in with what you state as your Life’s Purpose. Why? Because this is where you will get your strength to crash through the inevitable barriers that go hand-in-hand with trying to do the ‘impossible’ (think making a few mill. is going to be easy?)

You are moving nicely right to where we want to be: transitioning from thinking about our lives to thinking about the money (this is a personal finance blog, after all … we have to get there eventually right?!)

So, we’ll get to the Number soon enough; we’re beginning to ‘paint a canvas’ here:

- Your Life’s Purpose is the title of the painting
- Your Rear Deck Speech is the scene we are painting
- And, now we are sketching the lines that we will flesh out with the paints of our choice later.

So, Picasso You need not do this right now, but can you give some thought as to how much each of A, thru’ F. is likely to cost (and, it sounds like the second A. and B. need not be entirely out of reach given that you already own one house to trade for one near the retreat, right?)?

Again, think MINIMUM acceptable ‘dream-standard’ for each.

BTW: the MAXIMUM referred to TIME: how long can you afford to wait for all of this, given that you ain’t no spring chicken any more – and, I mean that in the nicest possible way?

(B).Travel to other states and countries leading conferences at least six times a year.

(C). Help other agencies to establish Chaplains programs and donate a specific amount of money to help them get started.

(D). Own two vehicles to be used for travel one for me and one for my wife.

(E).Create and Publish a Magazine that will focus on the Spiritual aspect of stress management for police offiers and their families.

(F). Two personal “family” Vacations including me, my wife, my two children their spouses and two grandchildren.

MAXIMUM?
(A). Generous financial gifts for children and grand children at birthdays an/or Christmas.

(B). Seperate homes on same property as Retreat Center
for my wife and myself and my children and their families if they so desire.

These are the typs of “Things”. This does not of course include Money that would equal more than a “nice” very comfortable living. ( I assume we’ll work on the number at a later date?)

1. Your Life’s Purpose is as you have stated.

2. The Retreat Center is something that you are heavily involved in time-wise and personal commitment-wise, but not necessarily financially.

3. Your Number will come from wanting to “live well enough so that neither [your] wife nor [you] would “have” to work and that [you] would be able to do things related to the retreat center activities and well as personal trips and of course helping [y]our children and grandchildren”

Forgetting about the work you have already done on your Number, can you tell me what types of things this will entail at a MINIMUM and by when at a MAXIMUM?