Financial Independence Is A False Summit

We had been climbing for almost 4 hours and the most dangerous parts were done. Those dangerous parts were why we came in the first place – 3 beautiful pitches of vertical ice attached to the mountain and glistening in the low angle winter sunlight. 

But our overall goal was the summit and we now had to slog up steep slopes blanketed with three feet of powder snow to get there.  After two exhausting hours post-holing our legs were in lactic acid overload and there it was within reach…… the summit! 

A surge of adrenaline pushed us faster, indifferent to the fatigue and pain.  The excitement practically boiled over as we approached the top, eagerly anticipating the rest and celebration. 

Then a sinking feeling set in as the terrain revealed it’s secret…..  This isn’t the summit at all.  The real summit devilishly appeared in the distance, still a depressingly long slog above us. 

We were duped by a false summit.

Are We There Yet?

For most of us, the not-so-uncommon climbing experience of false summits is a metaphor for other parts of our lives.  Once we get close to a goal or reach it, there’s always another goal, off in the distance.  The drive that propels us to achieve worthy and meaningful things conveniently moves the bar higher in a seemingly endless treadmill of chasing. 

You get promoted and you immediately start seeking the next promotion.  You run a half marathon, then are compelled to sign up for a full.  Then an ultra. 

There’s always another goal, so you never feel like you’re on top. 

I found financial independence to be a false summit too.  Even though I got there accidentally and did not deliberately pursue it like so many, the accomplishment itself revealed more things to achieve.  Sorry to break it to those of you pursuing financial independence – it’s great, but it will reveal other summits. 

Higher and harder summits.  Some will still appear agonizingly far away.

One of those summits is of course happiness.  Many have written about this and I knew the score going in, so I had no misgivings that being financially independent was going to make me happier. 

Well, it’s not quite that simple.  To be clear, I am very happy to be financially independent!  Like, ridiculously happy.  But am I a happier person? 

That jury is still out.  It looks to be split for now. 

There Is No Finish Line

So becoming financially independent simply revealed new summits to climb.  Things to strive for are good of course.  The bad part is those new summits brought many of the same doubts, worries, fears, and anxieties that I had before. 

The good news is that the new worries and anxieties are tempered and perhaps softened by the knowledge of my financial security.  But they’re still nagging at me, reminding me of the disappointment of not being “there yet”, wherever that is. 

I’ve written before about how life doesn’t get easier, you just get better at it.  New summits to climb always come packaged with newly acquired wisdom in life.  They sit off in the distance, reminding us of the need to keep pushing. 

I’ve digested and come to terms with the fact that I’m the kind of person who will likely never be satisfied in life.  I’m always going to be striving for something.  Financial independence was merely another milestone achievement in my life, albeit a hugely significant and liberating one. 

Come to think of it, it’s actually the one that may enable me to take on new summits I could never have imagined.  There’s lots I still want to do.  From a 50,000 foot view, I want to serve others, be more charitable, and make an impact on the lives of those less fortunate.  I just want to be a better person. 

I realize that doesn’t require having 25x my annual living expenses stowed away.  But to me that stash is a tool with so much potential.  I just don’t know what the details of that potential look like right now. 

I guess one of my next summits is to figure that out.