It wasn’t that far in the rear view mirror that a night like this would include a bottle of kick ass California Cabernet and a big ass steak from Fleming s’ or Morton’s. The tab would be over $200 and the night would be a great culinary experience with Leisee, my lovely bride of over thirty years.
Tonight was different. We had just had a financial windfall and it would have been easy to head off to Fleming s’ to celebrate and toss down a cocktail at the bar and order The Wedge, a 16 Ounce NY, Fleming s’ potatoes and a bottle of Raymond Cabernet.. Moulton Chocolate Cake would be a great choice for desert and the tab, at least a duce, probably closer to $300 with tip. What a great night and it can only get better when we get home.
Tonight was different. A cheap 
, some homemade pasta with meat sauce and a smile from Leisee. It has been a good week and we didn’t need to blow a $200-300 to celebrate. We have been through a lot and we will fight to save where we can and enjoy all that is ours and all that we can build without being overly spendy.
We will celebrate quietly and enjoy what we have done and build upon it with our own brand of fun. That is the key to happiness have your own your fun, own your passion and be the person you want to be without felling the need to spend big bucks to celebrate your own success. You know what you have don and you can enjoy it without felling a need to show everyone else what you are or how successful you have become. Be the you that is you, not the you that will impress others.
That said sometimes you need to pull out all the plugs and let it go. I choose to do it on my own terms and when the time is right.
The realization of internal validation is a huge hurdle for me. Once your validation is the sense of accomplishment within and not the external reward you are truly free financially. Only then can you define what is important to you.