Music speaks to me in a way that other things cannot. Sometimes it’s the beat–some songs tend to make me drive faster. Sometimes it’s the harmony–I sing along to those. But for many, it’s the lyrics–I can relate to them–and I think this is probably true for many of us. But what does this have to do with finances? Okay, I’m getting there. Sheryl Crow really gets me thinking in Soak Up the Sun when she sings, “It's not having what you want, It's wanting what you've got.” Those words are POWERFUL, for they totally embody the idea of CONTENTMENT. I decided to Google that term so I could share with you an intelligent definition, which I’m going to do, so get ready, here it comes…contentment: a state of happiness and satisfaction. But I’m going to go a step beyond that because the example Google used really gets to the root of what I’m trying to say today: "He found contentment in living a simple life in the country." How did the subject of that sentence find content...

Over the next few weeks, I am going to share some friends’ Christmas events that had huge impacts on those who experienced them. I hope this week that you enjoy Amanda’s experience:             Imagine  a Christmas without: advent calendars eagerly counting down the days, cheerful folks humming and singing carols, advertisements appearing on the television, radio, or in store window displays, absence of lights and decorations, lack of images of Christ and even Santa Claus as well as anything else associated with the holiday, no Christmas family specials are offered to be viewed, where there is no reference to Christmas in school, and the 25 th  day of December is considered an ordinary working business day. Does such a place exist; you ’ re wondering? Envision a place where the Western Society ’ s rules don ’ t come into play.    Where the hot burning sun beats below on the black fabric wearing residents and where the sand creates and di...

My parents split up when I was very young. My dad moved out of state, and we were not very close, literally or figuratively, while I was growing up. While this was probably not so common in the early 70s, it’s quite prevalent today. I’m sure there are many that can empathize with me. My heart goes out to each and every one of you. It has taken a long time, but my dad and I have reconnected and are in a good place now. How did this happen, you ask? Through a shared experience. I think it is important to have experiences that leave lasting impressions. Some of those just happen, but most don’t, and it’s more than alright, and even necessary, to create them.  Ok, so you like the idea of a shared experience, but this whole Covid thing has really thrown a wrench into your normal holiday traditions AND your budget. You aren’t sure where to start. I’ve got you covered. For less than the cost of your Thanksgiving Dinner turkey, you can get your entire family together from across the ...

When I think about my childhood, there are a few events (some good, some not so good) that really stand out. These specific incidents made big impacts on me, so they really stuck. I bet you can say the same thing. These encounters, good and bad, help shape who we are. As parents, it is our job to teach our children to be honest, upstanding, contributing members of society. This does not happen by accident. Part of this process involves the experiences we give our children–we can orchestrate PEAK moments for our families that will leave lasting impressions on young, impressionable minds. What is a PEAK moment? According to de Jager Meezenbroek, Garssen, van den Berg, van Dierendonck, Visser, and Schaufeli in the Journal of Religion and Health , “Peak experiences are often described as transcendent moments of pure joy and elation. These are moments that stand out from everyday events.” Christmas offers an EXCELLENT opportunity to offer experiences that can become “PEAK moments” in ...