Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

By Max Ehrmann © 1927
(Source: https://allpoetry.com/Desiderata---Words-for-Life)

Soundscape of Your Day [Breathing Technique]

"Often we feel the need for some peace and quiet, and when quiet is not to be found, it seems that peace cannot be found either. When you can’t shut the world around you, here is a way to find spaciousness within the sounds of life. Sit comfortably. Take a few breaths in and out to get settled. Now, instead of trying to take in all the sounds around you at once, locate just one specific sound. Perhaps the soft whirring of an overhead fan. Let your attention gently stay with that sound for a while. Then find a different sound. Maybe you hear a dog barking. After a few moments, find another sound. Finally, relax your attention so that it expands to include all the sounds. You will notice that some come and go and some stay, but all of them change. This is the soundscape of your day, made up of noises and the spaces between the noises. Let the sounds wash over you like the wind."

~ Cyndi Lee (as read in the January-2019 issue of Real Simple magazine)

The Giver, the Pleasure Seeker, or the Protector – What Is Your Money Mind®?

Greetings all!

Have you thought about your relationship with money and how it affects your daily financial decisions? Are you the Giver, the Pleasure Seeker, or the Protector? 

Image from https://www.unitedcp.com/meet-joe-duran

Joe Duran’s book “The Money Code” deciphers your money code:

1. The Giver: You take care of others but might obsess about sacrifices to be made
2. The Pleasure Seeker: You want to feel good but might be worried that there is never enough.
3. The Protector: You want to find peace of mind and avoid pain.

Joe is also the founder and CEO of United Capital wealth management firm, which offers an interesting diagnostic tool – Money Mind^®. United Capital says, "Money is only fuel" - and understanding your money biases might help you make smarter financial choices.

Discover your Money Mind^® here:
https://yourmoneymind.finlifepartners.com/#/?_k=n56lzg

Below is the summary on each type's instinctive responses to making financial decisions.

PROTECTION:

The Protection Money Mind^® is motivated by fear and tends to value security and peace of mind. 

• Spending: Often focus on cost, delay gratification, and live well within their means
• Saving: Tend to focus on saving and can be critical of those who spend money freely
• Planning: Careful, meticulous, and motivated to protect themselves and loved ones
• Safety Net: Seldom feel that their safety net is large enough
• Risk-Taking: Usually prepared for bad outcomes, can be apprehensive about risk and dislike losing
• Timing: May require a high degree of certainty, potentially missing opportunities

COMMITMENT 

The Commitment Money Mind^® tends to derive joy from giving and may fear letting others down. 

• Spending: Tend to prioritize supporting the people and causes they care about
• Saving: Can run short on funds for their own needs as they support others
• Planning: Usually consider the other's opinions and how their actions can impact them
• Safety Net: May focus on helping others regardless of their resources
• Risk-Taking: Often leave important decisions to others rather than taking control
• Timing: Frequently put off their own financial needs to help others

HAPPINESS

The Happiness Money Mind^® tends to prioritize enjoyment and may fear missing out. 

• Spending: Usually thrive on living life to the fullest, sometimes beyond their means
• Saving: Can feel frustrated and impatient at the thought of having to save
• Planning: May value near-term rewards over planning for the future
• Safety Net: Can have blind spots that result in an underfunded safety net
• Risk-Taking: Tend to be overly optimistic and underprepared for negative outcome
• Timing: Often quick to make important decisions and seize opportunities presented

SOURCES:

1. Joe Duran’s book “The Money Code”
2. https://www.unitedcp.com/financial-life-management
3. https://yourmoneymind.finlifepartners.com/#/?_k=n56lzg
4. Good overview video: https://vimeo.com/64098130

What did you think? Drop me a line!

Hope [Poem of the Week]

HOPE (by Emily Dickinson)

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

Source: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/42889/hope-is-the-thing-with-feathers-314

Image from http://www.jbsa.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2001937132/

Easy Vegetable Soup with 3 Tasty Add-ons

Greetings all!

The weather right now is perfect for soups. Here is an easy recipe for a tasty vegetable soup with three secret ingredients!

  

Basic Ingredients:

• 1 onion and/or 3 cloves of garlic (dice)
• 400g of cabbage (shred)
• 3 large potatoes (peel and cube)
• Your favorite fresh or frozen veggies: Carrots, peas, corn, tomatoes, bell peppers, green beans, etc.
• Salt/pepper to taste
• Parsley to garnish    
• Add-on 1: Can of Beans (rinsed)
• Add-on 2: Prunes (5-8, cut into strips)
• Add-on 3: Feta or similar cheese (crumbled)                                              

Make the soup your usual way. Here is mine:

• Fill large pot with water and add cubed potatoes and shredded cabbage and boil for 20-30 minutes until potatoes are soft.
• In a large saucepan, heat up a bit of oil, add the onion (and/or garlic), and sauté for a couple of minutes. Add your favorite veggies and cook for 20-30 minutes.
• Add the veggie mixture into the pot with potatoes and cabbage.
• Add a rinsed can of beans. Beans are a great source of protein!
• Add prunes at the same time as you add beans. Cooked prunes taste a bit like eggplant or mushrooms. Simmer for 5-10 minutes.
• Add feta cheese to serve – a vegetarian friend of mine generously shared this secret (and a cup of delicious soup!). I have always loved cheese in tomato soups but until now have never thought of adding it to vegetable soups. Yum!
• Add sat & pepper to taste but keep in mind that feta might be salty enough.
• Garnish with parsley.

Bon Appetit! Hope you like it!