"Borrow with pride" from Swakoo's posting

I would like to share another "borrow with pride" moment!  We were having a great discussion at the below investors' forum and I was totally inspired!  http://www.valuebuddies.com/thread-1566-page-4.html  Another forum member Orang asked a very thought provoking question: "Then what?"  We tend to think in linear terms. And we extrapolate in straight lines - using past experience to predict the future!? This is very much like driving using the rear view mirror...  When it comes to Financial Freedom or Independence, most of us will say - if I achieved this and that, then I will...... The targets we give ourselves are more or less a combination of below:  1) When I've earned my first million (Then what? Change the goal to my next 10 million? When is enough enough? Hit 10 million increase goal to 100 million? It's a journey with no destination?)  2) When I've earned my first million by age 40 (Why the rush? I know I will die much younger than my peers? Or is it more so I can "smile down" others who did the same but at a later age than me?)  3) When my passive income exceeds my living expenses (Hey!? Do I need a million now? And what has age got to do with anything?)  11 months ago, I was having the same kind of dialogue between my mind and heart. And I am glad I've taken the first steps towards living my life in accordance to my: "What if tomorrow never comes?"   Is my net worth at an ideal level? No. (It's never enough!)    Is my passive income at a healthy gap with my living expenses? No. (If I got an expensive and long drawn illness like kidney failure I will be in deep shit!)    And don't talk about age... I am already past 40... (So? On some days I feel like 21 years young! And it's defintely not that I in a rush to "smile down" others past 44...)  I've decided to follow what Deng Xiao Peng advised: "Feel the rocks as we gently find our way across the river."   Of course it's equally OK if you prefer to wait for a boat to come along, or to build your own bridge across the river. Hey! Different strokes for different folks!  P.S. For new readers, you may want to read my first bite-sized story on my interpretation between "having lived and making a good living". Singapore Man of Leisure (welcome to my blog; just google it!) This post was written by a guest contributor. Please see their details in the post above. If you'd like to guest post for TheFinance.sg, feel free to contact me for details about how YOU can share your tips and knowledge with our community.