You Can't Take It With You

Happy Monday Everyone,

Do you all know the story of Ebenezer Scrooge?  He is the character who originated from an old Charles Dickens Novel.  At the beginning of the story, Scrooge only loved money and power.  By the end of the tale, Scrooge had learned that what really matters in life are the relationships you create.  He learned that by spreading kindness and by caring for others you make yourself truly rich.   

This story is often told at Christmas which is when Scrooge was visited by the ghosts of Christmas past and one from the future.   However, the general story is told over and over in many different formats and versions (watch just about any Hallmark movie where the "self-centered" main character learns that there is more to life than money, power, or being constantly overworked and that a life lived without compassion for others is not a life well-lived).  

I know, I know you're wondering why I am bringing up a Christmas tale now in the middle of June...actually you're probably not wondering.  If you've been reading my blog at all over the last two years, you know that I'm going to tie this theme back to something important you should understand...so here goes...

As the title of this post says, the idea that you "can't take it with you" has been rolling around in my brain a lot these days.  My family and I are planning a big trip this summer - something I've never done in my lifetime - a driving trip across the country to Seattle, Washington, and back again!  We have always wanted to do this with our kids but never thought the opportunity would present itself.  However, because of COVID my spouse now finds himself in a position of being able to work from wherever there is an internet connection, and I get a nice long summer this year so we're hittin' the road.  Instead of taking to the air - where we'd be sharing space on public transportation, we're taking our RV and making the long journey out and back.  This journey has, and will, take a considerable amount of planning, preparation, and money (frankly) to pull off.  During a moment of planning last week, my husband said, "remind me that this is a good idea."  And to him my answer was this...

We can't take any of it (money) with us when we are not here anymore, and the memories we are going to be creating with our children this summer will be beyond priceless.  

I am sure there will be lots of frustrating moments...think, "are we there yet" or "I have to pee...again!" type of comments, or even the odd break-down or flat tire, but I know that in the end, we are investing in our family and in an experience that will benefit us long after all the money is spent.  The opportunity to do this trip sort of fell in our laps - as I mentioned we never thought it would be possible, but here we are.  I fully recognize that we are lucky to have this opportunity, and not everyone reading this will get the opportunity to do the same thing.  But the idea I want to convey is that life is full of opportunities, both unexpected and planned for, and sometimes we need to just take the bull by the horns and grab those opportunities when they arise.  

When we give ourselves permission to experience unique things, we learn things.  

We learn about ourselves (what we like, what we don't like, what we value, who we are, and how we are connected to the world). 

We learn about other people (how they learn, how they live, and how to be in relationships with them).

We learn about our community and the world around us (the varied cultural and belief systems people hold, the realities that folks in other communities live with, the pasts that they grew out of).   

and 

We learn about compassion, empathy, and perspective-taking.  

Your opportunities may take you far afield and away from home, and your opportunities might be waiting for you just outside your door, but either way, I would encourage you to grab them with both hands and make the most of them - spend a little extra when you have it, take the safe risks that present themselves, and choose to stretch outside your comfort zone when given the chance.  Choose experiences and invaluable memories instead of overconsumption of resources that in the end, you just can't take with you.  

Have a great day everyone, and safe travels on your journey!

Mrs. Hempey