Be purposeful. Connect socially. Count your blessings. That’s it.
With the start of a new year, we have the choice to be excited about what is before us or fret about the challenges we face. Reality says, since we are human, we’ll do some of both, but the majority of our energy is better spent in purposeful activity that brings us joy, anticipation, and excitement.
A week ago, my wife and I sat down for our annual planning session to outline some goals for the coming year. We spent about an hour discussing items associated with Family, Spiritual, Financial, Home/Yard, and Physical goals. We wrote them down and gave them a time frame to shoot toward. We’ll be revisiting them every month or two as the year progresses to keep ourselves accountable and celebrate our accomplishments. It doesn’t need to be rocket science and there will be bumps along the way, but we will certainly accomplish more toward our values and priorities than not being purposeful in this way.
Lately, it has been more difficult to connect with friends and family, but I encourage you to do everything reasonable to connect socially for your well-being as well as for theirs. Be creative. We’re all very digitally focused these days but when I read books about historical figures and the letter writing they did, I’m convicted that connecting through writing is still very meaningful, relevant, and therapeutic. Also, you can mask up, find a buddy, and walk through the park, have coffee, or a backyard fire in the fire pit. I get together with a few other guys periodically and we just bundle up and sit out on the back porch with a fire pit and drink warm beverages to stay connected. A little more effort but it’s worth it.
Another excellent exercise I was made aware of just today is to take 45 seconds each morning to think of 3 new things you’re thankful for each day. The key is to force yourself to come up with NEW things each time so you’re stretching your thankfulness muscle.
Here are a few items of which to be aware as we start the new year:
- Your IVY Investment tax forms (1099s and others) should arrive over the next couple of weeks.
- We’ve sent notices about the transition to LPL Financial and things are starting to move along. You should be receiving your first formal notice in about a month. We’ll keep you posted.
- Be assured that I will continue to be your LPL financial advisor and my commitment to walk with you through your financial planning, investment, insurance, retirement, education, etc., needs will not change.
- If the information about the LPL deal is new to you, please click the LPL Financial link below to read the letter we made available to clients over the last several weeks.
Please know that it is our top priority to answer any questions or concerns you may have and help with the changes we’ll be experiencing. Please call or email anytime.