Today I received confirmation I have officially paid off ONE of my student loans!!!! Although I still owe way more than I care to think about, but constantly do anyway, I am excited to have this over $13k loan paid off. I have been making significant payments on this loan since August 2008 and am so relieved, I'm done. Now I can focus on the remaining amount. If all goes as planned, I hope to have another loan paid off by May.

Sharing this may seem trivial, but to me they are HUGE. I hate being in debt. I hate feeling obligated financially to anything or anyone. My goal is to rid myself of this burden as quickly as I possibly can. Since completing my graduate studies, paying off my student loans has been a top priority. I long for the day when I can make decisions free of financial worry or obligation. I yearn for a time when I can focus my energies on buying a home and a new car or investing in a small business such as a bee and berry farm. Until that day, I will be marking time and paying dimes to free myself of that ball-and-chain known as student loans.