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This time of the year is a time for reflection. It’s easy to become so overwhelmed with economic, social and other matters, that we forget the things we should be truly thankful for in our life.
This Thanksgiving, to help you achieve more satisfaction in your life, consider associating this holiday with opportunities and achievements rather than strictly dietary and sporting activities. In all honesty, I’ll watch football as I digest a wonderful meal with family and friends. But I digress.
Journaling is a very impactful activity for me. I journal daily, or as often as necessary, about the wonders, challenges, and questions of life. Looking back at my journal entries from the past year, I realize how many blessings I’ve experienced. Life is much more than a collection of events. It’s a journey filled with grand and disproportional joys that we need to learn to recognize in order to live a bolder life.
My parents are the source of great joy in my life. I am the youngest of six children and hold a position of almost royal status. My role is supported my aging parents, and the needs that I can provide in their lives. What are the extravagant needs, you may ask? As the youngest, I am sure to bring up memories of a recent time when my parents and myself took a trip together to Puerto Rico. I was scheduled to speak at a confrence and asked my parents to join me. My parents accepted my offer after I mentioned the five-star accommodation, food options, excursions on the island, and free flights.
At the end of the week, I walked to the front to check out our room. The hotel at the time was using a high speed dot matrix printer and fanfold paper. After informing the lady of our room number, she began to print our statement for the week’s stay. As the printer had completed its fifth page, I asked if she was printing several copies or other guests’ statements for the day. She smiled and softly stated, “No, this is the record of your stay.” I gulped largely and awaited the final page to print. She handed me a stack of pages, and I checked the total at the bottom. My facial expression gave me away, as I had my eyes wide open and my brows raised to the maximum level for my face.
My parents tried everything in the resort, from the restaurants to the spas to the island cruises. I told my parents to charge everything using the room key and we would settle the bill at the end. Taken in literal terms, the charges in the statement were representative of one of the resort’s marketing brochures. As a side note, my mother’s hair, face, and nails did look outstanding after she enjoyed the all-day deluxe spa package. Again, I digress.
After paying for our stay, my father pulled me to one side privately. He quietly whispered, “Son, I have something for you.” Now, I must say that I was intrigued by what would compel my father to make such a statement at that moment. He reached in his front pocket, and pulled out a large roll of money that was the largest I had ever seen. I asked, “Where did you get such a large amount of money?” He smiled and said, “One of the activities we enjoyed was the resort casino. Your mom and I won $3,600 this week.” We laughed and enjoyed the irony of the hotel stay “investment” I just tendered and the amount of money they had won.
I politely declined his offer of reimbursement, and hugged both of them. This is a much more humorous story than I could tell in one article. I will share other memories of gratitude this month.
Reflect on your past whenever you think about the future. The moment is the only way to live life. Your future can be anything you want it to be. Why not make your future exactly what you want it to be? Life is not long in terms longevity. The years you live are not what makes life worthwhile. It is your life that makes the world a better one.
As CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals, we understand that life is more than fiscal gains and are glad to help our client’s live life on their terms. We can help plan for your desired outcomes, whether you are funding a retirement with family gifts and travel or funding a favorite charitable organization for decades after you have passed away. Be thankful. You will get more out of it than you can ever buy with money.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be tax advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing is not without risk, including the possibility of losing your principal.
Registered Principal Securities available through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a member of FINRA/SIPC. Jimmy J. Williams Compass Capital Management, LLC, registered investment advisor, is an Investment Representative. Cambridge and Compass Capital Management, LLC do not have any affiliation. 321 S. 3rd, Ste. McAlester, OK 74501. Cambridge does not provide legal or tax advice. Please consult your tax and legal advisor for specific strategies on estate planning and income tax.