Daylight Saving Time
 |
Harry Potter
shoveling...
like magic. |
It's about that time of year again. In life, there are times, due to "no fault of our own," we either fall backward universally or get rocketed ahead. A loved one unexpectedly dies. A company downsizes and lays you off. Your car just decides it's had enough. An electrical short burns your house down. Or...a long-lost relative passes away and leaves you unexpected money. A new company finds your resume and headhunts you away. You find the new-to-you mint car online way under price...and it works great. Either way, the "no fault of your own," something went well or not so much.
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Waiting for the boom
at Yellowstone. |
As we come around the corner, this "temporal landmark" on the calendar gives us some time to reflect on those "out of the blue" things that pop into our lives. Certainly, some are the "no fault of your own" and others cross some invisible milemarker in the sand where, "after twenty years of work, I was an overnight success." Either way, it's important to have a plan on how to handle our newfound circumstances in a responsible, humble way. Whether you win the actual or proverbial lottery, or the hand of cards that you get dealt isn't a great one, the next steps are up to you and yours.
 |
Still waiting...
years later. |
When we have an unexpected or, at least, what we feel is "undeserved" loss in life, it's important to remember God's hand and plan in the situation (on the unexpected good side as well). Having worked around emergencies enough, I know it's beyond our understanding why the seemingly minor fender bender resulted in someone dying on the side of the road, while the Hollywood flip-o-rama and the person is standing by the car waiting for us. Getting our head around the idea that sometimes bad things happen to good people...and...that in spite of doing everything "right" bad things can still happen is part of maturing and growing up. I remember both my wife and I, in different situations, were fairly emotionally/spiritually crushed when that realization came to pass...but we're stronger now for it.
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Big things
take big time
to get right. |
Much like the story of the mighty oak tree growing not in spite of the wind and foul weather, but because of it. Our lives and our resolution/fortitude/grit come not from an easy life but from the friction, stress, and trauma. It's been said that we should pray not for an easy life, but for the strength to handle a difficult one. Our kids are just starting into wrestling, and there are some other kids that may be a thousand matches into their careers...those don't end well for the less experienced. But, in the losing comes the life lessons that help harden our hearts and bolster our spirits. They help us remember that failure is seldom fatal and remind us that, at some level, winning is getting back up on the proverbial horse. Years from now, when "daylight saving time" hits in some unexpected way for our children, I hope that they can trace the seeds of their resilience back to the lessons on the wrestling mat today.
 |
Grandma
is a bonus. |
On the flip side, using a financial example, for when we unexpectedly "spring forward," let's say you get the "surprise" tax refund, the holiday bonus, the house that sells above asking, or the lucky stock pick that goes big. Or (not recommended or endorsed here), the winning lottery ticket, lucky when you put it all on red in Vegas, or whatever long shot gamble that went lucky. In both cases, there is some of your steering hand and gas/brake pedal involved...but in both cases, the result may be unexpected. In a perfect world, you'd set aside a large portion of those "winnings" to help meet your goals - fill up an emergency fund, top off a retirement goal, etc. In the real world, we just don't want you to "blow it" on plastic junk.
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Have a helmet for the
bad days. |
In disasters, depending on the circumstances, there is a cash outlay of "direct financial assistance" that is sometimes available via non-profits, church groups, or FEMA. The idea is that if you've lost your home, vehicle, all your belongings, is that you can use the "gift" toward your deductible, first month at an apartment, or perhaps a start on a car to get you back to work. I remember distinctly a disaster in the southern US where the "free money wagon" rolled into town. Within hours, you couldn't find a big screen TV, gaming console, or beer in three counties. This "daylight saving time" influx of cash came and went in an instant...but the tornado damage was still there staring at the newly entertained, but still newly homeless folks, in the face the next day.
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Always be
ready for
whatever
may come. |
As we wrap it up this week, use "Daylight Saving Time" wisely to think through your "what if" plan so that you're more prepared should a bad day come to visit without the emotion and trauma of the moment. Similarly, think through the plan for an unexpected win. Christmas bonus...what are some goals it could help with, not just a spending spree? Lastly, it's a convenient marker on the calendar to leverage and reflect (and a little time to course correct) before we close out the year. Are we where we want to be on the Zig Wheel segments? If not, you've got two months to lean in a little harder. It's also a good time to think about what the holiday season looks like in relation to our goals and aspirations. Holidays can be a convenient time to blow the budget, blow the belt line, and feel awful with the lasting consequences in the new year. Or, it can be a great time to set yourself and your family up for the "new year, new you" kind of thing. The choice is yours...and now's a great time to make it. As we "fall back" this fall...maybe do a little reflective planning so you can keep on killin' it.
With you in the arena, from ours to yours...Happy Trails!
Call to Action:
- Pick out three things you'll reflect on and commit to changing before we come into the holiday season.
- 1 - ___________________
- 2 - ___________________
- 3 - ___________________
- Discussion: Consider what you/your family could/would/should (level of commitment) and start/stop/sustain (action) in terms of planning for a what if (estate documents, good-bye letter, etc) and what insurance coverages you have in place to be adequately protected.
Further Reading, Motivation, and References:
- "An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn, is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts." Winston Churchill
- "I don't mind going back to daylight saving time. With inflation, the hour will be the only thing I've saved all year." Victor Borge
