Thanksgiving is possibly my favorite day of the year.
For me, it is the official kick-off of the Holiday season.
Growing up, our Thanksgiving always included a trip to Charleston, Illinois, to visit my beloved cousin Jean.
Jean was the jolliest person I have ever met. I vividly remember always being greeted with a loving bear hug and over-the-top, but fun: “Gobble Gobble!”
We spent the days hearing stories of how she procured the world’s greatest cheeses or most elaborate fabrics. She loved telling stories, cooking great food, and of course watching football. I also remember spending time in Jean’s yard navigating the persimmon tree tossing around the football with my Dad—What was not to love?
Thanksgiving fills me with great nostalgia, and while Jean peacefully passed away several years ago, I am incredible thankful for all the wonderful memories she helped foster.
The reason I’m sharing this short story involving Jean is because she was unequivocally one of the wealthiest people in mindset I have ever met. However, by no traditional financial metric would Jean’s situation ever be described as “wealthy.”
Rather, her perceived wealth could have been attributed to a coupe of things; For one, she enjoyed a guaranteed income stream (IL State Teachers Retirement Pension) that exceeded her monthly expenses. However, she also invested heavily in relationships, which included a plethora of friends and family that enjoyed her company as she aged.
We all have or have had a Jean in our lives and if you’re lucky enough to be spending time with your Jean (or Gene) this year, give them that extra hug (it means more to them than you might realize).
At Know My Plan, we are thankful for you and your relationship. We wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving. We hope it is filled with warm memories. May you find wealth far beyond what money can buy.
–Nic
P.S. will anyone else have their Christmas tree up by the time you go to bed on Thanksgiving night?
