One of my dearest and closest friends passed away October 4th. Steve was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier in the year. After a successful Whipple procedure (8½ hour surgery), my friend spent six weeks in ICU. Thankfully, due to his suffering, he passed away. Most folks I know can relate to that last statement. It sounds odd when I read it. Part of me doesn’t really mean it. I’m angry he isn’t alive with us here on Earth anymore. I’m sorry his lovely sons and his grandchildren won’t have him around anymore. Yet I’m grateful he isn’t suffering any longer. Good friends are hard to give up. I know it’s not our choice. I understand that part. Yes, he will live on in our memories of him. I get that, too. But that isn’t the same thing as picking up the phone and talking with him. My memories of him aren’t up to par with spending time with him admiring God’s beauty in nature. I am very grateful that his family and all of us that are close friends were able to celebrate his life together during his funeral.
Many of my friends and clients have suffered loss during this past year. Some folks have lost close loved ones – spouses, partners, even children (perhaps the worst loss we can ever experience) during 2020. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many folks have been forced to abandon their traditions and rituals of closure. Early on during the pandemic, funerals weren’t even held. For many in our society, funerals are important in helping to start the process of healing from the loss of our loved one. It is sad that so many folks have been unable to make progress in their grieving process due to COVID-19 restrictions. This crazy time in which we live, this COVID-19 time, has contributed greatly to, what in my opinion is, fatigue for most everyone. For many who have lost loved ones, lost jobs and many who have insecurity about their future – and the future of their family – this fatigue is much more than real. This fatigue is constant in their daily life. This fatigue is natural and rational. Who wouldn’t be fatigued if stricken with the loss of a family member, or job loss and financial insecurity? Most of us are tired of being restricted in our travel, in our movements, our habits, our being in the open company of others, in our American way of life. We have all been forced to reckon with an unseen enemy – a virus. And we don’t have a definite timetable about when this will be over.
So, what’s this got to do with investing and financial planning? A lot. One of my favorite statements to clients is “live today with an eye for tomorrow.” We all know “we can’t take it with us.” I’m not promoting foolish spending. Quite the contrary. I’m urging folks to save for the future, while living in and enjoying the present. We can really only count on the present. The future is not guaranteed. For any of us. So, live well my friends. But plan well for the future while doing so. Financial assets really only give us options. And financial options are important. Very important. When it comes to financial options, more is always better. Unless we inherit monetary wealth, building financial security involves discipline and sacrifice. That’s not very popular. But it is factual. One of the ways my most successful clients (as measured by their life success and significance, not merely financial success) achieve their life goals is through a consistent state of gratitude. Wow! It’s really pretty simple when you get down to it. By living a life of gratitude and gratefulness, these folks live in a state of grace and graciousness. We all know people that exemplify this behavior. The more we can emulate this gratitude and gratefulness, the more it benefits us and those around us. Coming into this Thanksgiving season, I hope we can grow in our gratitude and gratefulness for the good fortune we share. And we share much good fortune in where we live – our community and our country. I’m hopeful we can reflect on our blessings and strive to infect ourselves with gratitude and gratefulness – especially during this Thanksgiving time of year.
An exercise I have asked some of our friends and clients to participate in is to recognize and memorialize (write down) unintended blessings or graces from our COVID-19 experience. What unintended blessings or graces have you experienced during COVID-19? One of my clients shared that she has spent much more time reading and reflecting during quarantine. Another tells me how their family has been sharing family dinners together almost every night. Before the pandemic, they tell me it was nearly impossible to gather both parents and the teenage children together at the same time. If we can recognize unintended blessings or graces from this mess of COVID-19, surely we can figure a way to capture and hold onto some of those blessings into the future. Perhaps we can become more habitual about slowing the pace of our lives down a bit to read, or share family dinner, or to sit and talk. Now that will be meaningful and impactful. That will certainly be something to give us hope and gratefulness – Thanksgiving perhaps.
My dear friend’s passing is a vivid reminder of how fortunate we are to live here in the Garden of Eden. We all make choices, either consciously or inadvertently, how we will address and use our time here on Earth. My hope is that we all will live in gratitude for this blessing of life and the beauty of all around us which we are free to enjoy. In my experience, gratitude and gratefulness are hallmarks of a life well lived. May we all live well and remain healthy. Happy Thanksgiving!
-by Ben Smith
Registered Principal, RJFS
313 East 10th Ave. Bowling Green, KY 42101 | 270-846-2656
Any opinions are those of the author, and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected.
Ben Smith Life Compass Financial is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc.
