Monday, July 7, 2014

An Independence Day - Independent from the Rest

July 4th is a very festive occasion for most Americans.  The barbecue, the fireworks, the days off...and then the reflection, no matter how slight or how in-depth, about being an American and what Independence Day means personally.

On this past July 4, I decided to begin a practice of being 100% independent from fear, doubt, and worry.

For years, I have always wanted to take my children on a cross country trip.  What held me back the most was fear.  Going 3,000 miles away (and then coming back), on the road, single, all females, can be quite discomforting if one starts thinking about the worst case scenarios.  Then, the weather.  I am an armchair meteorologist because I disdain driving through snow and I am terrified of tornadoes.

Wait.

Correction.

Was.

Now, I make sure I have good tires for the snow and have good judgment in travel while having a Follow-Me forecast - going about the business at hand.

We went on this trip and came back.  We experienced and saw great things and I'm sure it expanded the children's awareness about some things.  But when we got back into our city, everything looked so different to me.

The things that I used to be concerned about...disappeared.  Those things that may need addressing are still existent, but they just don't live rent free yelling from the balcony to keep a state of turmoil in my conscious anymore. Those so-called issues are just merely 'things to do' and those 'things to do' are now addressed on an "as need to address without emotional involvement" basis.

Done.

Next.

I realized Sunday evening (7/6) that I had peeled away pretty much all the layers of past influences.  Everything has changed.  I'm cautious in not using the words belief and perception.  I could say belief and perception have changed, but those words just don't cut deep enough.  It's more of an awakening.  Seeing past what I used to think it is to what it really is.

All through my trip, I kept meditating on excerpts from Matthew 6:25 -34* especially vss. 27 and 34 where vs. 27 says 'you can't add an hour to your life by worrying' and vs. 34 says 'each day has its own trouble.'

And that's where the ticket is.  Somehow in the last year, last month, last week, I stopped looking at things as a 'trouble', but started looking at things as a growth opportunity.

I've come to realize, to walk, and to talk that worrying does not change one thing nor does it make a difference in an outcome.  All worrying does is rehearse your mind, body, and emotions through the turmoil of what is trying to be avoided but going through it anyway as if it is occurring.

I also learned along the way in my studies** that dollar amounts are nothing but numbers with a succession of commas and zeros.  $10 is no different than $1,000,000.  It's the emotion and the mental perception on those two different numbers that bring about the perceived value.  Money is no more than a tool and it does not make a person as a whole better nor does lack of it make a person not so well.  Now this is not to negate the fact that more money creates options, but to say that someone having $10 is no less a person than someone having $1,000,000.

As I watched firework shows over the past four days, those colorful displays symbolized to me the popping of ideas, opportunities, options, door openings. Independence Day is the tearing down of old thoughts, habits, and practices to do and approach things differently. The freedom to do so.

Independence Day is everyday.

Happy Independence Day.

tnd



*Matthew 6:25-34

**Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith and Rev. Karen Russo

5 Things To Know Before Renting A Home

Tori rented a home in a suburb of a metropolitan city.  Tori did not sign a lease and the home was rented under a verbal agreement of what she would do as a tenant including making various repairs in the home and what the landlord would do and provide as the property owner.*

Tori needed to register her children for the new school district and the district requires a lease or purchase documents to show occupancy in that city.  Tori did not have a lease.  The district told her she could get an occupancy permit from the city hall housing department.  Tori went to city hall to obtain the occupancy permit and the city told her that she had rented the home illegally because an inspection was not done on the home as required for an occupancy permit to be issued. Tori told the landlord about the situation and ceased paying rent.  The landlord files suit to evict for non-payment of rent and Tori files suit for all rent paid to live in a home that should not have been rented.*


1. Know the Occupancy Ordinances in That Particular Community

Most cities have ordinances or laws regarding occupancy including how many people can live in a certain home depending on the size and number of rooms - related or unrelated as well as inspections that need to be conducted before issuing an occupancy permit.

Call that city's building housing department first to determine if there are any occupancy regulations that need to be followed before renting.  Also, determine that the home desired is free and clear to be rented and occupied according to the city's ordinances.

2.  Know Exactly Who Owns The Home

There have been scams where someone has placed an ad to rent or sell a home that they do not own, then "rented" the home to "everyone" who came with a security deposit and first month's rent OR had people send money to finalize the rental.  Then all the families who thought they have a new home to move into - showed up on the same move-in day.

Look up public records to know who for sure owns the property in which you are interested.

3.  Confirm That You Are Speaking With the Owner or the Owner's Authrorized Agent/Representative

If need be, ask for identification or documentation. 

4.  Rent in Writing

Renting without a lease leaves a tenant, as well as the landlord, vulnerable. 

A lease is best prepared by an attorney and then reviewed by the other party's attorney before the other party signs the document.

At the minimum, leases typically indicate:

  • Move-in Date
  • Duration of Rental Term
  • Security Deposit Dollar Amount Given and When/How It Will Be Used and Returned
  • Monthly Rental Amount and Total Amount for the Entire Rental Term
  • Who Pays What Utilities
  • Who is Responsible for Repairs and Lawn Care
  • Appliances Provided
  • Method to Paying Rent


5. Review and Consult Before Signing

Review the lease carefully - reading every word in every line in every paragraph on every page.  Signing a document indicates that there is full 100% agreement to the document.  If there is any issue, concern, or disagreement in any part of the document, DO NOT sign the document. Address those issues, make modifications in the document to become 100% satisfactory, then initial and date those changes and then sign.  Be sure that the other parties initial and date those changes as well. 

Be prepared to walk away if terms are unreasonable, uncomfortable, or not agreeable.

It is a good practice to have any document requiring signature for any reason to be reviewed by an attorney.


Renting a home is a two-way street.

TND

*Fictitious name(s) for a realistic situation.