The time to be adventurous is when you are young. It is a sad fact that it is easier to fail when there are much fewer stakes in the game. As we get older certain things become anchors, that don’t weight us down, but hold us to things that are precious. Family, homes, and careers. These are things that once you get a bit out of your mid 20’s the risks begin to grow.
For me, outside of wanting to write, I’ve always wanted to own my own shop. Specifically a game store that also operated as a bar/café. Coffee and scones in the morning, to beer and wings at night. The whole time operating with my nerdly brothers and sisters rolling dice and measuring Warhammer battlefields. I live in Charleston SC and such a place does not exist yet. To own a shop would be a massive financial and time based commitment. There are a few people who have that dream here, and maybe I’ll be able to take that leap alongside them, but for now it is not a possibility. The wonderful things I have in my life are too precious for me to risk on a hail Mary business idea.
So why don’t I take the leap? What’s the reason? Money. It’ll always comes down to money. I didn’t know when I was younger the work it would take to make realities out of certain dreams. I made it a priority to get a home over opening a business. That doesn’t mean down the road it’s not a possibility, but for now money is my major barrier. Life has become more and more expensive over the last few years, and that means the ability to save for a home as well as for a business is not just improbable but impossible. I chose the home over business. The barriers to owning a business are growing and growing. Something will need to change in the United States soon or no one will be able to take that leap of faith to make a new business.
Home ownership has a massive barrier as well. My wife and I are fortunate in what we were able to accomplish as far as getting in to a home. It was a lot of hard work but also a massive stroke of luck. We had so many things happen in our favor to get us where we are. The home we got, we were able to offer on without competition due to the realtor we had, we had saved a few of the stimulus checks from COVID, and well… GameStop. Honestly one of the things that allowed us to get our home was the weird burst in private investors during the Gamestop craze in 20/21. So thanks Wall Street Apes.
With having a home and kids, taking a risk adds the dread. What if I fail? What if I lose the roof over my children’s head? I can go hungry for my wants but my children shouldn’t have to. My wife shouldn’t have to. She would do it for me, but it’s not fair to our partners to ask them to do that as we advance in life. To ask them to sacrifice when we should be comfortable; its just not fair There are so few guarantees in this world, and I’d rather hold on to the love of my children and wife then chase a dream that might harm them in any way. They are my true dream.
Some people might say this could lead to resentment but I could never. They aren’t keeping me from a dream. I kept myself from that dream by not jumping at the right time. Hindsight is 20/20 so I could never know when the right time was. The right time was when I lived in an apartment and had barely any large bills. The right time was when I was young and able to fail and only let myself down. I could have saved then, I could have taken the leap then before going after a home. I chose this life with my children and wife and I’ll choose it over any fantasy, any day.
If you’re young, take the chance. Bet on yourself now and strike. The biggest risk I’ve taken in my life is moving to a city where I knew no-one but my wife. I have a home and two children now. A beautiful home in a beautiful town. The risk I didn’t plan on taking, but the one that fills my soul.
Take a leap off the ledge if you can, or just enjoy the view. Either way I wish you the best.
K
A funny thing happened on the way to the book 
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