A Ticket Is an Option…

Years ago I attended a musical performance at the Ahmanson theater in Los Angeles. About ten minutes into the show, a song that seemed to have racist undertones made me uncomfortable. I told my parents and my wife that I would meet them in the lobby after the show. Maybe my leaving the theater was an act of protest, but also, I found it hard to enjoy a performance that offended me.

And because a ticket is an option, not an obligation, I felt it was not only appropriate to leave, but the right thing to do. Fifteen minutes later my family decided to join me in the lobby.

While I might have purchased a ticket to the show, I was not obligated to stay. I can leave early or stay home and not attend the performance in the first place.

I remind myself of this concept when I am reading a book or watching a movie that isn’t holding my attention. While I might have purchased the book, I’m not obligated to spend any more of my time reading it if it isn’t worthwhile.

This applies to theater tickets and to other investments. Years ago, I was on vacation in Mexico, and I wasn’t enjoying myself. I decided to end the vacation early and head home.
My mom was aghast. “But you have pre-paid reservations at expensive hotels for the next four nights,”

That was true, but just because I had paid in advance for something does not obligate me to use it. There are many unread books on my library shelves.

This concept applies to every aspect of our lives.

Early in my career, I purchased a shopping center in San Dimas. The shopping center turned out to be a nightmare. There were non-stop problems with the tenants and, despite valiant efforts, it was an ongoing headache to manage. After several years of trouble, I decided to walk away at a significant loss. My time was valuable, and I refused to invest further in a center that was never going to bring me anything more than meager returns and many struggles.

Because every moment of life is a gift, we should make choices about how we spend our time accordingly.  If you’re in a relationship that is unhappy, or working in a career that is unsatisfying, maybe you should consider moving on. I encourage you to make the most of your life because it is precious and short!

Meanwhile, I’m looking forward to rooting for the Dodgers in the World Series.  I checked, and they are not playing in San Dimas.

Alan