Life is often treated as a race. People tend to compare their stories to others and two outcomes typically occur. 1. You feel “behind” which leaves you feeling badly about yourself and your situation or 2. You feel superior or “better” than others because you’re “ahead”. I often hear from people “wow you own a home and you’re SO young” “but you have a home you’re set”. Which leaves me REALLY wanting to clear somethings up.

Yes, I own my home. Did I work hard for it, save up a ton of money and earn it? NO! There is one reason and one reason only that I own my home and it’s the absolute worst reason. As many of you know my brother, Justin, passed away 11/16/2015. I was listed as one of the beneficiaries on his life insurance policy. Oh fuck, right? Right. I am willing to bet that most of you thought I worked my ass off to purchase this home or I had parents to give me a down payment (how lucky right) WRONG. Perception is a bitch and I don’t want any one comparing themselves to me, thinking I am “ahead” because of what I have. I LOST someone truly priceless. If I could sell everything I own to have my brother back I wouldn’t even have to think at all. I bought a home with the money because that was the best investment I could think of and I knew it was something my brother would have wanted for me. As he would say “it’s time to spread your wings”.

The point of this post is to clear some things up about me and my situation but to also bring to your attention that other people may or may not have things due to reasons that are completely out of their control. Everyone has a story. before you judge them or yourself based upon what you perceive, take a step back and think for a moment. Social media portrays very little but I try to be as transparent as possible. So, if you’re struggling or feeling behind, stop. It could always be worse and life is not a race!

(And don’t get me wrong, I do work hard to pay the mortgage and bills each month)