What did it cost

I was talking to a friend about the build and he asked me “So what did ya have in it?” and before I could answer he qualified the question by saying “You built it very quickly, but you brought in more help than usual. But then again you were very efficient in the design and scheduling”….. I’m honestly not sure how the rest of that conversation went, because I quit listening. What did it cost to build a house in 87 days? What did I gain from working on such an accelerated timeline?

The short answer, I gained a house to live in before I had to move out of 102 Hilltop. The long answer, it’s all about the feelings, man!

The pride that comes with being successful. The knowledge and confidence that comes from setting and achieving goals. My physical abilities have always been the barometer by which I gauge my worthiness and my value. But also the newly acquired confidence (and insight) that came from writing about the process.

What did it cost? The question was asked with a monetary answer in mind but that’s when I stopped listening to the conversation. My mind went in a completely different direction. Building that house and 87 days cost me three months worth of family suppers. It cost me date nights with my wife Weekend road trips to see the kids, it cost me countless hours of sleep and a lack of overall wellness. I’ve come to believe that my body has limits. Seems silly to say out loud but I’ve also truly believed I, with enough willpower, can overcome perceived limitations. If I want it badly enough, I’ll find a way. I am excellerating my confrontation with the phrase “I can’t do that anymore” by the choices I’ve made.

I had a flashback to playing PIG with the kids when they were little. When you made the shot that gave someone their last letter, you had to “prove it”. You had to make the same shot a second time to prove it wasn’t a fluke. If you missed it the game continued. I think that memory came to me for a reason. I think I’ve finally realized I don’t have to prove it anymore.

All of those things; the things gained, the things lost, they are all worth so much more than money.