** I was going to write about Ezines… but I felt that what
I witnessed on Saturday will have a far more powerful
impact. It did for me. **

06.18.06

I learned a very valuable “life” lesson this weekend.

Yesterday, my Dad and I went to an Auction that was held
on the same farm where he was raised. The present owner
was auctioning off 35 acres of vacant land. The main farm
house, barns and remaining 65 acres were not sold.

As we walked around the property, my Dad shared story,
after story, after story of the good times he and his 3 sisters
had there.

A kid can get into a lot of mischief with over 100 acres to
roam and multiple barns and buildings to venture in and out
of!

Any-hoo…

He got to talking about how the property was once available
for purchase way back in 1963 or ‘64. He and my Mom had
just bought a property up the road and passed on the farm.

That was 40+ years ago.

June of 2006, the farm is still in operation.

Cows still graze the fields.

Horses still trot through the woods.

Fish are still caught in the lake.

Not a whole lot has changed expect for one tiny thing…

Real estate prices.

I don’t know what Mom and Dad would have paid for
the whole package back in the early 60’s but I know
it would have been far less than $4100 an acre.

( That’s what the 35 acres went for. )

When we got back home, my Mom inquired as to the
results of the sale. My Dad shared them with her and
they both took a long pause. Finally, my Mom spoke
and said…

“That was our biggest mistake. We had the chance to
buy that property 40 years ago. We could have had the
house, the land, everything”.

And so it goes…

Making decisions based on the present circumstances
and not the future.

The way I see it, my Mom and Dad missed out on a
$500K asset…. probably a lot more than that given
the home, barns, numerous outbuildings and free GAS!

Are there regrets?

Of course.

Both of them commented on the fact that they should
have grabbed it when they had the chance. Instead,
they stalled ( procrastinated ). Told themselves “They
can’t afford it” and guess what? A new buyer came in
and stole the farm out from underneath them.

That same person will get a check in a couple of
months for roughly $140K for the 35 acres that was
sold.

Oh well..

My parents can’t change the past.

40+ years have gone by. They’ve driven by the old
farm hundreds of times. Each time thinking to themselves…

“If only…”

For me, seeing my Dad get choked up at the sights and
sounds of his childhood memories being sold to the highest
bidder got my attention the most.

There he was, 71 years old.

And not a whole lot to show for his years of hard work.

I said you can’t change the past.

But you most certainly can predict the future by reviewing
the past.

Both my parents told me that knowing what they know
now, they’d bought the farm.

Making decisions based on where you’ll be v/s where
you are is so incredibly vital. My parents are living
testimony that by playing it safe and secure today,
you’ll only end up worried and insecure tomorrow.

I know I’ve had my share of missed opportunities in
my first 32 years on planet Earth. But after Saturday,
I will greatly reduce the number of missed opportunities
that come my way.

For you and your families future, I hope you do the same.

Take Care, Tim

Cell: 330.881.3026

Filed under: List Dragon

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