Summer camp is one of my favorite childhood memories. Each July my parents would take me up to a local church camp in the mountains of Idaho. I remember the days being filled with activities like swimming in the lake, hiking, crafts and large group games. But sometimes the best times were the unplanned times. After dark we would regularly sneak out and “raid” another cabin, this may be simply attacking them with pillows dowsing them with water. This would entice them to do the same to us creating and ongoing, fun filled war. We always got caught by the benevolent camp director who would hold back his smile and assign us to KP, but somehow we made that fun as well!
Fun is one of those things that we all think of differently. Recently I had a great time doing something that others might call “boring”. I volunteered to deliver holiday meals, maybe that makes me a “bleeding heart” but it was a great time. I delivered food to the elderly and disabled in my local area, each person was gracious and thankful for the meal. Some told me that was all they had for that day, others just wanted to talk about the events of their life. With each meal I delivered not only food for the body but an antidote for the lonely feeling they had for the moment as well as hope for the future. It was better than a movie and much more fun.
My dinner last night was incredible! I went out and picked up some pre-cooked chicken, blue cheese crumbles and a bunch of vegetables including peppers, carrots, tomatoes and lettuce. I than spread the lettuce on a big plate, chopped up the vegetables and added them on top with the chicken and blue cheese. Then I sat down and ate this simple delight one slow bite at a time. You may be asking yourself, “What’s the big deal?” well the “big deal” is that I made it, I created it, I enjoyed it and it cost me very little. It was mine.
The current recession has shocked a lot of people but in a good way maybe it has brought a lot of us back to financial reality. My grandpa used to say “only trust what you know” and this recession has taught many of us that we do not know how stable our job is, the downfalls of too much credit and that those who we trusted (bankers and financial advisers) have let greed overwhelm them. Making what we do know even more valuable. For example I know that despite the fact my employer may let me go, I can trust my friends and family will keep me around. I know that despite my past misuse of credit, that living on a budget within my means is now a viable option. And I know that despite the greed on Wall Street with our money, that I can choose to be a generous person and not stoop to their level, a 5% safe CD works for me!
Uncategorized | admin June 17, 2010 | 
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