How do you see the stars through the darkness?
I often look for signs while I’m navigating the path forward. I want to be sure that I am heading in the right direction. As the sun sets earlier and earlier – at its earliest today – that has become increasingly challenging.
There was a time when that fact turned my mood downward, too. Short days and long nights seemed to reflect my mood, and that wasn’t a good thing.
Then I came to understand that while the sun continued to fall lower in the sky, there was much that was good that was happening as well. As you’ll see in the accompanying TED talk by lighting architect Rogier van der Heide, darkness is an essential part of our day and of our world.
That came into view recently when I drove by the Winter Lights exhibition at the North Carolina Arboretum here in Asheville. It was morning. The sun had risen, and the light display was off. It’s hard to see the brilliance of the lights when they’re competing with the sun, even on a slightly overcast day.
It wasn’t until the sun went down that the lights really shone.
The same is true on the path to prosperity.
It might seem that the brilliance of growing assets might be ideal, like King Midas and his magic touch. Everything you touch turns to gold. Every offer is accepted. Every deal is closed.
Would that be ideal? Perhaps, not.
The accountant in me scrutinizes every expense. Another part of me thinks that’s kind of a downer. Why not just forget about the money going out and focus on the money coming in?
If you do that for too long, though, chances are high that you’ll soon discover that as the sun sets every night, there is a cost to every decision. Often in the form of an expense or a debt.
Maybe, just as the night gives contrast to brilliant light displays, being mindful of expenses and debts gives color to the positive flow of cash. When they complement one another well, it can be wonderful.
As you finish the year, may your income be high and your debts low.
Shine Brightly!
Stef
Golden Word: splendid from Latin splendere “be bright, shine, gleam, glisten,” from PIE *splnd– “to be manifest” Example: Her splendid vision gave everyone in the room hope.
Golden Quote: Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.
— Brené Brown
Golden Speech: Why light needs darkness Lighting (Full: 17:24 | Clip 13 sec) architect Rogier van der Heide offers a beautiful new way to look at the world — by paying attention to light (and to darkness)
Golden Statistic: Three quarters (73%) of US adults say they’ve adopted better financial habits as a result of the pandemic. (Northwestern Mutual)
Golden Term: Liability is something someone owes, aka debt.
Golden Tip: Appreciate both the positive and the “negative” side of finances: income and expenses, assets and liabilities.
Golden Question: How well balanced are your income and expenses, assets and liabilities?