Stoic Liberty.

242 years ago the year was 1776 AD. Oppressed people sought liberty. How’s their dream faring today? Are we wrongfully suppressed in ways that conflict with liberty? Liberty = Independence = Freedom = Capitalism = Win; does this describe our current reality? Are we thriving as well as we ought to at this phase in human evolution? Is it as beautiful as the fireworks that burned so brightly on the 4th of July? It’s 2018.

5 years ago I left my employer to embark on the hero's journey because my health fell apart at age 25. It may be best described as a “train-wreck in slow motion” that played out over a lengthy timeline. Despite the disaster, I looked for upside. I had an idea. A dream. A vision. A brighter future. Self actualization and transcendence. Maslow's pinnacle. Liberty. Winning.

I saw how painful, harsh, and troubling disintegrated health could be. To know old age as a young man isn't easy. I had to let go of ambitions, desires, work, and learn to simply be present. Some would call it mindfulness meditation, others would call it knowing Christ’s presence. Indeed, I’m comfortable saying “yes, it’s both”. It was the only break I could find from incessant neurological, physiological, and biochemical hell. Sitting on the floor in my office, I made a promise. I promised Him that I’d do His work if He’d heal and allow me to do so; I knew I needed Him to work through me. So I decided to place all of the odds in my favor to the best of my ability: sleep, meditation, yoga, exercise, nutrition, hydration, supplementation, Pomodoro (or modified Pomodoro) work cycles. This way doctors could focus on helping me rather than instructing a lifestyle change, despite one's disbelief at the physique my self-discipline produced and her accusation that I must be taking steroids. I wasn't. I'm not. I don’t intend to. Western medicine thinks there's a pharmaceutical explanation, bandage, or solution for pretty much everything. Natural self-imposed healthy practices are often superior to such potentially harmful alternatives. Pharmaceuticals couldn't resolve a lingering, burning, persistent predicament I was facing:

“What about my potential future children??
What if I'm never well enough to teach them personal finance based on my upbringing and curriculum in the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University's finance and entrepreneurial leadership programs?”

The downside of such a failure was more than I could bear, so I had to build a hedge to mitigate my acrophobia because throwing away tens of thousands of dollars of education at this premier institution didn't make a lick of sense. Creating a simple, playful, creative approach to teaching personal finance via ebook/book did. It still does. It will continue to do so.

Now, I’m sure you may be questioning my integrity while rightfully wondering if this book will ever actually manifest. Well, God willing, it will. I’ve had to cultivate more humility than I ever expected and truly have no pride in the work as it’s been so therapeutic, rigorous, and ongoing as my health is such a challenge and it’s taking so long, but Jesus Christ continues to teach me how to be a peacefully present embodiment of His patience despite all that’s awry and required of me. The ebook project is a gift of love made to Him, as a way of saying “thanks” for His unconditional love and the gifts He’s given me. I’ve had to let go of so much and accept that my application of knowledge in accordance with His will is beyond my control; the best I can do is show up, connect, and embody resilience. No, the 1st Book of Gitas doesn’t mention Him (as some’s perception of Him would turn them away from picking it up) as I intentionally have no desire to run off someone who may be genuinely helped by the book’s content; however, it’s anathema to aggression per His instruction and it’s worth sharing more of my guiding perspective here for you to take or leave. Why? Because I wouldn’t be here otherwise. I’m so far from perfect it’s not even funny. I’m continually humbled by my own health difficulty and the good left undone, especially since I intended for this work of art, this big bore artillery, to be launched long ago in an effort to create true intangible value for countless others. Factors beyond my control, including but not limited to health challenges and others’ obligations, have prevented this from happening in accordance with my first choice.

My TOP choice was to share the book years ago, but the best I’m able to do now is reassure you of my promise that it’ll be available as soon as it’s feasible. I apologize for any mention in the past of a launch date; each one appeared manageable given the circumstances at those times. My inner artist won’t allow me to nix the delivery of the right good to market. There can be no settling here. The upside is it’s going to be better than even I predicted. The book has my purest of heart intentionally poured into it that it may overflow to others I’ve yet to meet, and the odd nature of this journey has actually enabled me to make more connections and collaborate with more beautiful individuals.

Be grateful for what you have. It may not be perfect. It may not last. It may not meet your standards. But perhaps it’s enough. If you’re reading this, you’ve more liberty - choice - than many humans ever know. Congrats! Celebrate accordingly!


Resiliently Favoring Non-Aggressive Liberty,


Tyler



P.S. - one of my brilliant doctors noted a profound observation in my documented biochemical strength while we chatted this afternoon and reviewed labs; I’m still FAR from the ideal/normal molecular makeup in some major ways, but my dedication to excellence bar none, self-directed research, and self-disciplined implementation of winningest choices per guidance and research is enabling improvement above and beyond what we have tracked for the past 3.25 years. This shift occurred sometime between December and June, and it has allowed my body to heal better and grow stronger with somewhat more reasonable ease. Paired with a personally tailored diet and lite exercise, strong lean muscle development isn’t like pulling teeth. Praise God.