Many Joys Wrapped into One
February 6, 2010
The holiday season is over – safely packed away for another year. The New Year has been rung in with all the appropriate festivities. And now it’s time to gather up those documents that are needed for tax filing! Always such a sobering transition to make after all the fun.
But my mind is still on the fun that we all had at the end of the year. And in thinking back on it, I realize that one of my children offered me a graceful lesson this holiday season. It seems one or the other of them always has something to teach me. They really are my greatest teacher!
It was my daughter this time, a senior in college, a young woman at that important time in life that comes just before jumping off into greater independence and self-sufficiency. College almost finished, a tough job market but still lots of potential, a possible move. Gangs of friends making plans for the next phase of life and wondering exactly where they’ll be. There’s lots going on for her.
For my daughter, like most college students, there have been times when “spending money” has been pretty tight. The experience of living on a strict budget isn’t a bad thing of course. There’s a lot to be learned there. I actually overheard her tell her brother when they were talking about what he would do in the summer, “You’ll be amazed at how little you can live on!”
In fact, she’s become very good with that small budget and this year had managed to save up some money for Christmas in order to buy gifts for the family. And so, one afternoon, she borrowed her brother’s car (a valuable exercise in negotiation) and set out to shop.
When she got home, I met up with her and was pleased to see her in an excellent mood. She seemed almost jubilant. (Have you noticed how shopping – especially Christmas shopping – sometimes puts people in a bad mood – crowds, money, hurry?) But she was in great spirits.
“You seem pretty happy. How did the shopping go?” I asked.
“That felt so good!” She exclaimed. “You know, there were so many times last summer when I really didn’t have any extra money to spend. But I’m making a little more now and so I saved up for this. It felt great to be able to go out and get these gifts. It was fun to pick them out. I even had $10 left over to put a little gas in the car. That felt so good!”
She even told me that the friend who was shopping with her commented that it was cool the way she was budgeting. A budget – the mark of adulthood!
For my daughter that afternoon, her money had lots of meaning. First and foremost, it was independence. And also achievement. And an opportunity to share and express gratitude (a little left over for gas). She was using her money to feel her self-sufficiency. A proud accomplishment!
And for me it was a reminder about stopping to enjoy the moment and all our small victories, about meeting our goals and then celebrating the fact that we have. And it was about having a little fun too!
