Financial Work is Dream Work
Think about it. Do you ignore your finances?
Why? Is the fear of the unknown? The perceived pain of facing reality? Ignoring a problem never makes it better or go away. If you are ignoring your finances, you are carrying a lot of financial stress. How is the stress impacting other areas of your life? Does your financial stress carryover into your relationships? Does it cause you to be short with the ones you love? Does your financial stress cause you to be stressed in other areas of your life? How is this impacting your health and overall well being?
The conversations we have about money are never just about money; it is about effectively using money to build the life we deserve. Our money conversations are about building a foundation that will give us freedom. Freedom from financial stress. Freedom to pour into our loved ones. Freedom to show up for our health. Freedom to spend on our joys and dreams. Whether you want to admit it or not, your financial behavior or lack there of, impacts everything in your life.
Recently my money and health collided and the abrupt force cracked open one of my dreams.
My hope is that by sharing this story, it might inspire you to take action you have been putting off for far too long.
A few weeks ago, I got sick, really sick. Normally when I get sick I throw down numerous cold medicines and keep on moving. Not this time, this cold took me down. I was out of school on a Monday, sleeping all day. Then I went to school on Tuesday and Wednesday, trying to push through (obviously wearing a mask)! By Wednesday evening I could not move or talk because a dry cough had taken over. I coughed for 12 hours straight and was wearing a mask 24/7 in my house in the hopes of preventing Bailey and Scott from also getting ridiculously sick. I scheduled the first appointment I could get with an osteopath from Nourish Osteo and was able to see Alyssa at 9:30 Thursday morning. Boom! 80% of my cough was gone. My cough was so debilitating, I am not sure how it would have resolved without Alyssa. Unfortunately what came after was overwhelming pressure in my head; it felt like my head was going to explode. Needless to say, I was out of school Thursday and Friday.
The problem, I was scheduled to go to a conference for Personal Finance teachers in San Francisco that weekend. This was going to be an amazing opportunity to learn, connect with other Personal Finance teachers in CA and interact with an amazing organization (Next Gen Personal Finance) on our shared goal of making sure all students have access to a personal finance class.
As of Thursday, there was no way I was going to make this conference. So I scheduled another osteopath appointment on Friday with Victoria. I wanted to give my body every support possible to potentially make this conference. At the same time, Bailey got the flu Thursday night was was throwing up all night. Luckily Scott was well enough to care for Bailey because I was immobilized. Therefore I also scheduled an osteo appointment for Bailey. Victoria is new to Nourish Osteo and she is awesome. Bailey and I were completely wiped out after our appointments and came home and napped for 4 hours.
By Friday night, after 2 osteo appointments and the help of Claritin D, I was finally feeling a bit better and able to get up and do a few things. I was supposed to be at the conference Friday night which wasn´t going to happen but I was well enough to attend Saturday morning. I wasn´t 100% and was still suffering from coughing attacks but was well enough to show up.
Each osteo appointment is $150. At this point I had spent $450 between myself and Bailey and it was completely worth it. Without the help of Alyssa and Victoria, there is no way I would have made this conference and Bailey might have been throwing up all weekend (she was not). Our Flexible Spending Account and my monthly savings account for yearly unexpected expenses is what gives me the freedom to spend what is necessary for my and my family´s health. That Friday was the first day Bailey had missed school this entire school year which is an incredible feat for a 4 year old in preschool. She had numerous starts to colds throughout the school year but she sees someone from Nourish Osteo at least once a month for the support she needs to stay healthy.
All of this lead to something really incredible!!!
At this conference, I met the co-founder of Next Gen Personal Finance who put me on the map with State Superintendent Tony Thurmond!
Tony Thurmond at the Next Gen Personal Finance Conference in San Francisco. Due to my coughing, I am in the back and can´t be seen in the picture. But I still made it!!!!
Tony Thurmond is trying to get a bill passed that would make personal finance a required class to graduate in California and he is coming to visit my personal finance classes Thursday 3/30/23!!! I am so excited!!! This is an incredible opportunity to share my work and to be a part of the team that is working to make my dream a reality by ensuring that all young people have personal finance education before graduating high school.
I am certain none of this would have been possible without the care I got from Nourish Osteo and giving myself this level of care would not have been possible without the attention and care that I give my budget and savings. Without both of these things, there is no way I would have been healthy enough to get to the conference and meet Tim Ranzetta, the co-founder of Next Gen Personal Finance and would have missed out on an amazing opportunity to connect with Superintendent Tony Thurmond at Berkeley High School!!!! It is all such a blessing and I am so grateful for this entire experience and series of events.
So I want you to think about your own life. Where are you cutting corners on your finances? Where could you do better so you can really shine in the areas that need you the most? If you are ignoring your finances, what else are you sacrificing? Is it really worth it?
If you don´t know where to start, please reach out. I can point you in the direction of free resources and also offer coaching and online classes.
Disclaimer: I am an educator, not your personal financial advisor. Please make sure to do your own research before moving forward with any actions discussed in this newsletter.
Know that all investments involve some form of risk and there is no guarantee that you will be successful in making, saving, or investing money; nor is there any guarantee that you won't experience any loss when investing. Past performance does not guarantee future performance. Always remember to make smart decisions and do your own research!