As we approach another holiday season, I thought it would be appropriate to share some thoughts from a favorite gift book of mine, “The Ultimate Gift”, by Jim Stovall. The book is told in an easy to read story fashion and filled with little gems of wisdom.
The messages are timeless and appropriate for both young and old. Of particular interest to me is that the book truly speaks to what is important in life, and while my work specializes in managing money, it’s about much more than dollars and cents; it is about life and living in a fashion that supports you not only economically but in a manner that helps you live your values and have a good sense of accomplishment at the end of each day.
With that, I share with you a few favorite gems.
The gift of friends
“It is a wealthy person, indeed, who calculates riches not in gold but in friends.” ~ Jim Stovall
It’s been said that a good friend is worth his or her weight in gold. With gold prices hitting record highs, that friend is getting more valuable While it is easy to put a price on gold, we can never put a price on friends.
The gift of learning
“Education is a lifelong journey whose destination expands as you travel.” ~ Jim Stovall
No matter what your age, continuing your education is healthy for you. It keeps your mind sharp and helps you store and retrieve information more easily. An old Japanese proverb states, “We begin aging when we stop learning.” Ponce De Leon searched for the secret to stop the aging process, but he never found the “fountain of youth.” Lifelong learning may be the next best thing.
The gift of family
“Some people are born into wonderful families. Others have to find or create them. Being a member of a family is a priceless membership that we pay nothing for but love.” ~ Jim Stovall
Families come in all shapes and sizes. Some are nuclear and some are extended. Some are related by blood and some are related by choice. Some are close and some are distant. But no matter what the connection, all families have one thing in common-love. The world can be a dangerous place, but our families can provide a safe haven. There is no better time than now to build up that haven.
The gift of work
“He who loves his work, never labors.” ~ Jim Stovall
A businessperson passed by a construction site and asked one of the tradesmen what he was doing. The worker, rather gruffly said, “I’m breaking my back laying bricks.” A short walk later, the businessperson asked another worker what he was doing. “I’m just earning a living,” was the reply. Curious about these replies, the businessperson asked a third worker what he was doing. Without hesitation, he said, “I’m building a cathedral.”
It’s all about perspective… If you are still working, are you breaking your back, earning a living, or building a cathedral?
The gift of laughter
“Laughter is good medicine for the soul.” ~ Jim Stovall
Bob Hope died at age 100. George Burns died at age 100. Hmm, maybe we should all laugh more.
The gift of giving
“The only way you can truly get more out of life for yourself is to give part of yourself away.” ~ Jim Stovall
It is a paradox of life that the more we give away, the more we get in return. Super investor John Templeton was asked what was the best investment he ever made. His response was … tithing. He said that for every dollar he gave away, he received $10 in return. All I can say to that is “deal!”
The gift of money
“Money is nothing more than a tool, it can be a force of good or a force of evil, or simply be idle.” ~ Jim Stovall
Whether you have a lot or a little, money-mixed with the right intention-can be leveraged to make a tremendous difference in this world. If you’re not controlling your money then it is controlling you. Is your money working for you or are you working for it?
The gift of gratitude
“In those times we yearn to have more in our lives, we should dwell on the things we already have. In doing so, we will often find that our lives are already full to overflowing.” ~ Jim Stovall
Instinctively, we all want more. We want more money. We want more power. We want more beauty. We want more stuff. Society and culture add to the mix by fostering an environment of “more is better.” Yet deep down, we all know that “more” does not equal happiness. A few moments a day of expressing gratitude for what you presently have will go a long way toward ending any suffering over what you do not have.
The ultimate gift
“In the end, life lived to its fullest is its own Ultimate Gift.” ~ Jim Stovall
As you reflect on your life, are you living life to its fullest, or simply getting by; and if so, what steps can you take to change things up.
My wishes for you this holiday season are that you will enjoy the season and all of its special moments to its fullest, whatever your current situation is.
I encourage you to pick up a copy of this special book of gems for yourself, snuggle up with a nice cup of hot tea or cocoa on a quiet afternoon and enjoy a good read – and, it’s a great gift idea for that hard to shop for person! Happy holidays!
