Central America, Part 1 — Coming Face to Face with the Ugliness of Money Scarcity

Central America, Part 1 — Coming Face to Face with the Ugliness of Money Scarcity

While away in Guatemala this past March, I had the chance to experience something I haven’t been able to experience in a long time: scarcity. What an eye-(re)opening experience!

Of course, I took care of doing some research, but I didn’t do as much as I likely should have because I thought all we had to do was get settled and then we could go from there. BIG MISTAKE.

Read More

Action Versus Intention: When Context Is Everything

Action Versus Intention: When Context Is Everything

It happens in the car, at work, at home, when we're out and about. We all do it. We judge. We judge ourselves and we judge others.

We judge everything we and others do, say and opine. It might be just for an instant, but we still do it. 

To judge is not necessarily a bad thing. We need to observe and evaluate what’s around us. It’s how we learn, how we decide what we like or don’t like and it’s also how we evaluate opportunities and risks.

Read More

Enough Already: The Cost of Not Having Enough...of What Money Can't Buy

Enough Already: The Cost of Not Having Enough...of What Money Can't Buy

I recently read another book by John C. Bogle titled “Enough: True Measures of Money, Business, and Life”. The title intrigued me and I figured I was likely to like it, as I’d enjoyed reading a previous work from this author: “The Little Book of Common Sense Investing”.

And I was right. It is a great book and one that I recommend.

Interestingly enough, the part of the book that struck me the most is conveniently located on the very first page...

Read More

How Many Cars Will I Own?

How Many Cars Will I Own?

There are very different ways of interpreting that question. 

I was rereading the book Your Money Or Your Life recently, and two of its passages brought me back to my mid-twenties:

"Other people’s expectations don’t make you buy stuff. TV does not make you buy stuff. Your thoughts make you buy stuff. Watch those suckers. They’re dangerous to your pocketbook—and to a lot more." - p. 194.

and

"'Quality of life' often goes down as “'standard of living' goes up. There is a peak to the Fulfillment Curve—spending more after you’ve reached the peak will bring less fulfillment." - p. 300.

Read More

How Many Winters?

How Many Winters?

As snowflake clusters fall softly to the ground this morning, I watch, coffee in hand. I appreciate the spectacle and wonder: "How many winters do I have in my future?”

I say it not to be morose but to ensure I cherish this one. This day. This snowfall. This moment. I want to soak in what this experience offers me. I've written before that memories are my most prized possessions, but I think the ability to stop and spend time in the now—doing what feels right in the moment—as often as possible is even more precious.

Read More

A Secret Happiness Principle - Try New Things….And Then Quit Them

A Secret Happiness Principle - Try New Things….And Then Quit Them

There’s a lot of talk about happiness these days. The happiness industry is booming with seminars, books, courses and all sorts of work and leisure “systems” to help us all be happier.

I’ve come to understand that happiness, for me at least, comes from learning about myself and what makes me tick (some might call it “doing the work”). It also comes from ensuring I have the freedom to make time and listen to what it is that I really want to do and be in all aspects of life: relationships, professional pursuits, personal experiences.

Read More