This is a guest post from Wojciech Kulicki, the writer behind the personal finance blog Fiscal Fizzle. If you enjoyed this post, please consider subscribing to his feed.
First, let me say that it’s a pleasure to share this post with MoneyEnergy readers. I’ve been a regular reader for some time, and the posts here are of a fantastic quality.
I recently spent an entire afternoon with family at the beach – relaxing and watching the world around me simply exist. A benefit of being in such a relaxed atmosphere is an enhanced ability to brainstorm posts for my own blog – I think better and clearer when I’m away from my desk and have time to reflect.
In this self-induced personal finance mood, I began to see everything around me in terms of financial lessons. Nature is an incredible teacher. Obeying natural law may not be the quickest path to riches, but it’s often the only sustainable one.
Here are a few examples of the simple lessons I took away:
What Trees Taught Me About Money
- Even in a hurricane, deeply rooted trees can flex with the wind. When we lay down financial “roots,” in the form of savings, insurance policies, diversified income or other strategies, we too can weather all sorts of storms.
- The seasons strip aging leaves and allow new leaves to grow. Our financial lives will also have seasons of ups and downs. The good times allow us to build wealth, enjoy prosperity and prepare for the bad times. The bad times let us clean house while protected by the preparations we have made.
- With a healthy rainy season, trees can survive a long drought. Just like a tree, when we soak up and store some of the resources given to us, we can survive a long financial drought. Cacti are probably the best example of this principle!
What The Beach Taught Me About Money
- All land masses are exposed to the cold, dark oceans on all of their edges. We can’t avoid exposure to risk and the unknown. The best we can do is to prepare and guard against it with the resources we have.
- Without care, the beach can wear and erode quickly. Relentless wave action can wear away beaches that have been abused and not cared for properly. If we don’t care for our own financial borders, the world will slowly eat away at its edges.
- You cannot stop wave action – but you can prepare for and protect against it. No matter what we do, we cannot put the world on pause. We must adapt to changing economic conditions, the newest laws and tools, and opportunities for our financial lives to grow.
What Sand Castles Taught Me About Money
- All sand castles are temporary. No matter how hard we try, each sand castle we build will only last as long as the natural elements allow it. Instead of getting frustrated, sometimes we just need to build a new castle to enjoy. Remember “Who Moved My Cheese?”
- Preparation and building technique make for a longer-lasting creation. The difference between the sand castles we built as kids and the ones you see displayed in hotel lobbies is nothing more than a lot of practice, preparation, forethought, and a basic skill set of building techniques.
- Simple, basic materials are all you need to create a masterpiece. Building a sand castle doesn’t require elaborate tools – at the very least all you need is sand and water. Building wealth doesn’t require too many tools, either. It’s the skills and principles we apply that really make the difference.
This is Too Wishy Washy!
If you think I’m full of it, that’s fair. I think I’m full of it most days myself. It does take a certain level of abstract thinking, a certain mood, and an open mind to learn valuable lessons by watching the world around you.
I’m not here to tell you that a tree saved me money on my car insurance. I want to show you how a moment of reflection gives you unique perspectives.
Find those important moments in your own life. Take 20 minutes to stroll quietly by yourself. Sit on the porch with your dog and watch the sunset.
Be open and observant and let the truth find you.
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You have an interesting way of thinking. I need to go back and reread this post.
I learned a lot about economics through this blog. A well-written reminder to all about the impending issues that we are all going to have to deal with (or are already dealing with) in this country in the years to come.
Thanks for the comments and mentions, everyone.
Interesting article and a completely different perspective on finances. I would have never thought so many things in nature can show us lessons in our daily lives. Just as you said in your post, the financial world is extremely tough and ever changing. By properly planning, we can make it through to live a comfortable life.
Interesting perspective. I think that the ideas of flexibility and preparation for change are really important, and especially relevant in our current economic situation. There’s no reason not to put down “roots” as you describe. We will either need to depend on those roots some day, or be able to use them for something that provides us with enjoyment. Thank you for the enlightening post!
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