Comments on: I’m relaxing my kung-fu grip http://johnnybtruant.com/kung-fu-grip/ The internet made awesome Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:40:52 +0000 hourly 1 By: Johnny http://johnnybtruant.com/kung-fu-grip/comment-page-1/#comment-2203 Johnny Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:35:40 +0000 http://johnnybtruant.com/?p=2003#comment-2203 I'll get there. It's hard to get out of the hoarding mentality... I'll spend, but when I'm giving up voluntarily, it's still hard to not think, "But I could just keep this. In case." I’ll get there. It’s hard to get out of the hoarding mentality… I’ll spend, but when I’m giving up voluntarily, it’s still hard to not think, “But I could just keep this. In case.”

]]> By: Lorrie http://johnnybtruant.com/kung-fu-grip/comment-page-1/#comment-2182 Lorrie Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:44:06 +0000 http://johnnybtruant.com/?p=2003#comment-2182 It can be so hard to change the way you feel about money. Especially if you have had way less than you need for way too long. That will fuck you up for a good long while. I find sometimes that when I suddenly have some after a long drought I actually have a worse time managing it because stupid mental/emotional trolls start rearing their ugly heads. I used to always donate all my stuff to the goodwill or some local thrift shop when I would do my spring cleaning but after living in a shelter a few years ago I make sure to drive the extra miles to drop off good stuff at a shelter that gets way fewer donations than the local Value Village and doesn't make a buck off of it. Time is just as valuable as money to give. I think you're heading in the right direction Johnny and doing just fine. It can be so hard to change the way you feel about money. Especially if you have had way less than you need for way too long. That will fuck you up for a good long while. I find sometimes that when I suddenly have some after a long drought I actually have a worse time managing it because stupid mental/emotional trolls start rearing their ugly heads.
I used to always donate all my stuff to the goodwill or some local thrift shop when I would do my spring cleaning but after living in a shelter a few years ago I make sure to drive the extra miles to drop off good stuff at a shelter that gets way fewer donations than the local Value Village and doesn’t make a buck off of it. Time is just as valuable as money to give.
I think you’re heading in the right direction Johnny and doing just fine.

]]> By: Johnny http://johnnybtruant.com/kung-fu-grip/comment-page-1/#comment-2134 Johnny Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:50:47 +0000 http://johnnybtruant.com/?p=2003#comment-2134 I did give $20 to the Cub Scouts who were collecting recently. For me, on impulse, that's big. I'm trying to change the fact that I consider $20 "big," believe me. I did give $20 to the Cub Scouts who were collecting recently. For me, on impulse, that’s big. I’m trying to change the fact that I consider $20 “big,” believe me.

]]> By: Debra http://johnnybtruant.com/kung-fu-grip/comment-page-1/#comment-2133 Debra Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:43:52 +0000 http://johnnybtruant.com/?p=2003#comment-2133 I agree, a lot of tumbling went on with that extra tip deal. Many of us do it, tumble around in our heads when we give out our money. I wonder what would happen if it were a couple of hundred or even five hundred given to a cause your in support of. Give that a try and let's hear about that. Because you sure can write and give us all a good look ourselves. Thanks for rolling it out like it is for you, many of us relate and need to laugh at ourselves once in a while. I agree, a lot of tumbling went on with that extra tip deal. Many of us do it, tumble around in our heads when we give out our money. I wonder what would happen if it were a couple of hundred or even five hundred given to a cause your in support of. Give that a try and let’s hear about that. Because you sure can write and give us all a good look ourselves. Thanks for rolling it out like it is for you, many of us relate and need to laugh at ourselves once in a while.

]]> By: Sami Paju http://johnnybtruant.com/kung-fu-grip/comment-page-1/#comment-2131 Sami Paju Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:13:28 +0000 http://johnnybtruant.com/?p=2003#comment-2131 Holy shit! I never realized that tipping involves such tedious mental gymnastics. Lucky me for living in a country where tipping is not customary. //sami Holy shit! I never realized that tipping involves such tedious mental gymnastics. Lucky me for living in a country where tipping is not customary.

//sami

]]> By: Johnny http://johnnybtruant.com/kung-fu-grip/comment-page-1/#comment-2125 Johnny Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:12:36 +0000 http://johnnybtruant.com/?p=2003#comment-2125 @Ken - Man, I can soooo relate. It's a strange thing I do... both seeing that money isn't always the end, yet wanting so badly to accumulate it because I've just ended several terrifying years of scarcity. @Kim - Thanks so much! Sonia got a good conversation out of me. That's one of my faves so far, I think, and luckily it's also the most visible. @Ken – Man, I can soooo relate. It’s a strange thing I do… both seeing that money isn’t always the end, yet wanting so badly to accumulate it because I’ve just ended several terrifying years of scarcity.

@Kim – Thanks so much! Sonia got a good conversation out of me. That’s one of my faves so far, I think, and luckily it’s also the most visible.

]]> By: Kim Doyal - The WordPress Chick http://johnnybtruant.com/kung-fu-grip/comment-page-1/#comment-2123 Kim Doyal - The WordPress Chick Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:43:00 +0000 http://johnnybtruant.com/?p=2003#comment-2123 That was hilarious....and SO true about the money! Any parent who reads this will know exactly what that feels like....you're SO trying to be patient and listen, but inside you're thinking "Why can't you stop talking?'......then they hit 13 and do stop talking! :-) The kung-fu grip about money really isn't about money...it's the 'not feeling' like you have nothing, and sometimes a few more dollars in the way of a tip are all it takes (because you KNOW you probably feel even better than the waiter who received it). Side note: LOVE your posts.....discovered you through the third tribe! The interview with Sonia was awesome. I constantly feel torn between marketing bigger & just being authentic (guess which one works better? duh... :-) )- the interview made me relax about about 'list building' and get back to doing what I enjoy! SO glad I subscribed! Thanks for the morning comic relief & wisdom. That was hilarious….and SO true about the money! Any parent who reads this will know exactly what that feels like….you’re SO trying to be patient and listen, but inside you’re thinking “Why can’t you stop talking?’……then they hit 13 and do stop talking! :-)

The kung-fu grip about money really isn’t about money…it’s the ‘not feeling’ like you have nothing, and sometimes a few more dollars in the way of a tip are all it takes (because you KNOW you probably feel even better than the waiter who received it).

Side note:
LOVE your posts…..discovered you through the third tribe! The interview with Sonia was awesome. I constantly feel torn between marketing bigger & just being authentic (guess which one works better? duh… :-) )- the interview made me relax about about ‘list building’ and get back to doing what I enjoy!

SO glad I subscribed!
Thanks for the morning comic relief & wisdom.

]]> By: Ken Montville http://johnnybtruant.com/kung-fu-grip/comment-page-1/#comment-2122 Ken Montville Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:46:17 +0000 http://johnnybtruant.com/?p=2003#comment-2122 I guess I should subscribe so I can get in here before all the real fans get their comments in. Not that I don't like the comments, mind you. It's a bitch when I write something and it's isn't as crystal clear to the reading audience as it was in my head when I was writing it. I've often found oblique references or subtlety are lost on most people which is way too bad. It means I can't ever have a dry (or is it wry) sense of humor and be considered a true wit like Oscar Wilde or someone. Money is such a sensitive topic with so many people that one needs to be really blunt trying to convey that the accumulation of the paper itself is not the end. Having said that, I would suggest that having all that paper (or electrons, as the case may be) enables people to relax a bit and give in to their philanthropic natures. It is the rare, rare, rare person of modest needs who runs around leaving large tips or handing out $100 bills to strangers in the mall (an exercise I actually read about in a "money" book). I will concede that handing out money to deserving souls or worthy causes feels good and should be encouraged. It's just a whole lot easier and more relaxing when, somewhere in the back of you mind, is the knowledge that your generosity isn't going to cause you to miss the mortgage payment. I guess I should subscribe so I can get in here before all the real fans get their comments in. Not that I don’t like the comments, mind you.

It’s a bitch when I write something and it’s isn’t as crystal clear to the reading audience as it was in my head when I was writing it. I’ve often found oblique references or subtlety are lost on most people which is way too bad. It means I can’t ever have a dry (or is it wry) sense of humor and be considered a true wit like Oscar Wilde or someone.

Money is such a sensitive topic with so many people that one needs to be really blunt trying to convey that the accumulation of the paper itself is not the end.

Having said that, I would suggest that having all that paper (or electrons, as the case may be) enables people to relax a bit and give in to their philanthropic natures. It is the rare, rare, rare person of modest needs who runs around leaving large tips or handing out $100 bills to strangers in the mall (an exercise I actually read about in a “money” book).

I will concede that handing out money to deserving souls or worthy causes feels good and should be encouraged. It’s just a whole lot easier and more relaxing when, somewhere in the back of you mind, is the knowledge that your generosity isn’t going to cause you to miss the mortgage payment.

]]> By: Johnny http://johnnybtruant.com/kung-fu-grip/comment-page-1/#comment-2121 Johnny Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:58:34 +0000 http://johnnybtruant.com/?p=2003#comment-2121 Haha, I definitely don't have loads of cash. Some day I will, and I will rule the world... but not yet. Thanks for the props, Archan. I appreciate it. Haha, I definitely don’t have loads of cash. Some day I will, and I will rule the world… but not yet.

Thanks for the props, Archan. I appreciate it.

]]> By: Jen http://johnnybtruant.com/kung-fu-grip/comment-page-1/#comment-2120 Jen Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:56:06 +0000 http://johnnybtruant.com/?p=2003#comment-2120 ooh, I do use a lot of smilies don't I! :) ooh, I do use a lot of smilies don’t I! :)

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