ST. CROIX INSIGHTS

Maintaining a heart of Thanksgiving 365 days a year isn’t always easy.

Recently, I came across an insightful article by Bryce Sanders, the president of Perceptive Business Solutions, titled Is Economic Anxiety Paralyzing Your Clients? It’s not just retirees who worry about the economy; it’s everyone.

Here’s Sanders’s list of common concerns:

• Inflation is out of control.
• I think interest rates are going up.
• The stock market is too high. I missed the move.
• The stock market is due for a massive correction.
• I think Social Security will go broke.
• The government spends more than it takes in.
• I am worried about the outcome of the next national election.
• Climate change will make the planet uninhabitable.
• Everyone on TV tells me to be scared.
• I see all these ads on TV for diseases I never knew I could get.
• The war in Ukraine will never end.
• Oil prices will never come down.
• Immigration is a problem.
• Will the Vikings win the Super Bowl this year? (OK, that last one was mine… but the answer is still no.)

These concerns seem inescapable, inundating our lives through news, social media, radio, and conversations with friends and family. It’s no wonder that maintaining a heart full of thanksgiving faces daily pressure. Or is it just me?

I indeed have a roof over my head and a two-car garage, but I can’t help but daydream about how much better life might be with a three-car garage. My refrigerator is well-stocked with food, yet curiously, I often struggle to find something truly appetizing. I enjoy the privilege of saving approximately 30 cents per gallon at the Costco gas station, even if it means enduring a brief wait of five to seven minutes. My list could go on.

I admit, there are times like these I do overlook my own daily blessings. Nevertheless, over the past few years, I’ve been dedicated to working on my gratitude.

I’ve written about and discussed this numerous times. Every day, I set out to do one good deed, which sometimes turns into two or three. These gestures can range from financial acts of kindness to simple courtesies like holding a door for someone.

Undoubtedly, maintaining a heart filled with Thanksgiving isn’t always a simple endeavor. But the knowledge that I can strive to make a positive impact on one or two individuals each day warms my heart. It’s through these small acts of kindness that a heart brimming with gratitude becomes much more attainable.

Additionally, I have a heart of Thanksgiving for you. Thank you for your continued trust in our ability to help you reach your goals.

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Ask yourself- can my portfolio support my lifestyle in my retirement?