Time for the Coffee Chat! If you'd like
to join, head over to Leslie's at Time
out for Mom.
The topic is: Lessons Learned
I had my post all written (in my head) but decided to read Leslie's before putting it down in words. Now mine seems so trivial in comparison that I'm almost embarrassed to write it but here it is:
Last week, I told you that my dad taught me to "always have a plan b." That one lesson has served me SO well over the years. I've been through two downsizings which threw me into the world of unemployment. With the last one - I was totally prepared! I had my "unemployment" budget worked out five years before it actually happened. Worked out - on paper - detailed spreadsheets - I was ready, at least as ready as anyone can be. I have to say that having that plan, knowing what I had to do, helped alot. I'm not sure I could have stayed afloat without that plan.
So now that I am employed, and things are MUCH better - do I still have a Plan B? You bet! Plan A, Plan B, and even a Plan C. I've been told that I'm somewhat anal when it comes to my budget.
So there it is - nothing nearly so deep as Leslie's but it is what it is.
I don't think any of our lessons should be trivialized.... Les learned a hard one...no doubt... but in some ways we both learned the same lesson later in life.
ReplyDeleteI think you dad taught you something valuable that you have passed down to your own children. He would be proud :)
Actually, I beg to differ. That strong mom I have? I am almost certain she had a Plan B...even C; otherwise she and I might not have made it through. Or, maybe we would have - just barely; but not to flourish.
ReplyDeleteShe always taught me about money from a young age. How to save it. How to plan to use it. From my allowance I had to, first tithe to our church, then buy my "essentials" (meaning, if I didn't like the shampoo, soap, toothpaste she provided -- buy it yourself girl!), Brand name clothes? also up to me. Then I had to save a portion, so we started a bank account together. Later on, that account paid for a very large portion of my wedding.
There are many ways my mom was there for me, and teaching me to be wise about money was definitely a very important one. Children need to learn to take care of themselves once they leave the nest; and there is nothing trivial about finances. not in the world we live in.
thanks for sharing this nugget of truth!
Absolutely there should always be a plan a, plan b and a plan z. Don't miss out though on the instaneous moments because they too be wonderful.
ReplyDeleteRather be anal than broke. Well done with that. Good lucl on the job search.
ReplyDeleteNothing trivial about it at all!
ReplyDeleteRecently my mom had cancer surgery for the 4th time. I have been 'down sized' 3 times, and a host of other things have come along in life. While waiting for her during surgery, my sister and found a calendar in the gift shop called "life is all about how you handle plan B". OH is that true! Have a plan!
I am a huge planner we talked about this before I think it is always important to stay on track with plans :}
ReplyDelete