Just a short thot.   I’m utterly fatigued of words like Abundance.   Prosperity.  Wealth.

They have the odour, for me, of negligent obliviousness to the fact that we are not paying, and have not paid for a long, long time, the true cost of our acquisitions that constitute this so-called wealth.  We’ve been naively content to let people (women and children especially) in developing countries pay the price, and of course, the planet.   See:  The Story of Stuff among many other indictments.  (note: I include myself in this paragraph!)

Furthermore striving for abundance (etc.) is based on a false premise:  That we do not currently have enough, and that we will feel better if we somehow attain a threshold we can call abundance, prosperity, ad nauseum.   Problem is, that threshold rarely is defined and we never arrive there.

I have a secret hope that as the false-ness built into our economies, esp. those of us in North America, continues to be exposed for its vacuousness (like flying on private jets to ask for massive taxpayers’ handouts) and deception (like Bhopal),  that we will insist, absolutely insist, that we rebuild a better way of doing economics.  It may mean pared down wardrobes, fewer shoes and even (gasp!) an end to dog fashion.   Really, I just don’t care about those things so much anymore – do you?

Might we be willing to exchange our abundance for an abundance of clean air and clean water?

Might we be willing to exchange our prosperity for basic nutrition for children around the world?

Might we be willing to exchange our wealth for creating an economy where the genius and creativity of individuals have a fighting chance to actualize regardless of country of birth?

I’d do it in a heartbeat.

PS:  So – if anyone’s looking for a money coach who’s going to cheerlead enroute to further excess , I guess I’m not your gal.   But if you, like me, want to wisely and thoughtfully manage your money so that our presence on earth is a net benefit to the global community and planet, not a net loss, let’s talk.

PPS:  I haven’t got it all figured out yet either.  But I’m sure trying.

PPPS: photo credit: Leeziet

I’m more than a little choked at the reasons both NPA and the media are surmising I – and 67,598 of my fellow vancouverites – voted for Gregor/Vision/COPE.

The reasons cited by NPA and the media are precisely illustrative of the fact that They Don’t Get It and seem genuinely at a loss as to why the NPA might be swept out.

1.  They Dissed Us: Ladner himself, on SHAW TV live coverage, commented to the effect that those of us (67,599 of us) voted on superficialities … implying at one point, as superficially as Robertson’s good looks.  Similarly De Genova commented:  “Gregor Roberson? Nice guy, looks good, speaks well. Has zero experience, zero knowledge to find his way around town,” De Genova said.   Last, Mayencourt dissed all of us by a comment on camera to the effect that the NPA would start work the next morning so that next election we’d elect a decent (or a word to that effect) council – implying our newly elected one is not decent.

This kind of naive, narcissistic incredulity that they could possibly, possibly be voted out of office – so much so that they accuse the electorate of voting based on superficialities – is precisely the attitude that got them the boot.

2.  Media think it’s about the scandal.  I’ve seen plenty of media speculation that the scandal played a role in the outcome.   It certainly wasn’t in my case:  It simply confirmed my opinion of the NPA – surreptitiously, egotistically, making back-room deals with big-business, possibly at the long-term expense of the average-joe-taxpayer (of which I’m one).

Here’s why I voted Vision, pure and simple:  they seem to give a damn about us citizens, in a way that the NPA just.plain.doesn’t.   Full stop.  

Readers:  If you voted for Vision, did the scandal play a role?  And do you think you voted for a similar reason as I did?

Gregor:  Best wishes, congrats, and keep giving a damn.

Photo Credit:  Blackbird

My bro and his family have pretty much everything they want, and more, and they know it.  Their son, my gorgeous nephew, is thoroughly indulged and adored by his grandparents and similarly has everything he could want, and more.

So a couple years back, my brother put the halt on excessive gift-giving at Christmas.  Actually, not just a halt on excessive gift-giving, but on gift-giving period.

I haven’t fully observed my brother’s edict (and I don’t mean to overstate it, either – he’s just saying, “Look, we have enough.  Christmas doesn’t have to be about boxes and boxes and boxes) but it creates a challenge.  I’m one of the dying breed who truly enjoys both searching for, giving, and receiving gifts at Christmas.  I also think that, despite its excesses, having a holiday about giving is counter-cultural and good for us!

What to do?  What to do?

Last year, I gave some chickens and hens to a needy family, via World Vision.

This year, I’m giving and asking-to-receive only Used Gifts.  I’m looking forward to this, actually – spending a couple days in antique shops on Main Street, sifting through those weird little shops crammed with curios, and of course browsing UsedVancouver.

My own wish list includes books from Abe (online used bookstore), or used jewellry.

The trick is to find the hidden gems – items still in good condition, that will (I hope) delight the recipient and deserve to be reclaimed rather than landfill.

Readers:  any suggestions of particularly good used-anything?  And frankly speaking, if you were a friend of mine and received a used gift, would you think that was cool, or would you be secretly dismayed?

Clients come to me for all kinds of reasons.   Many times it’s because the debt level has hit the “panic” threshold.  Many times it’s a general fear of concluding life as a bag lady.   Also:  General frustration with what their finances allow, or don’t allow;  wanting to provide a better future for their kids;  generalized guilt about not managing money;  feeling lack of control;  couples who wish they were more connected about money; chronically not earning up to their potential; sensing their spending doesn’t match their values; just a Yuck factor about money, period ….  it’s nearly as varied as the clients themselves.

And I’m no stranger to many of these sensations myself:   I’m not a money coach because I’m naturally wonderful with money; I’m a money coach because I’m naturally lousy, and lazy, and I’ve managed to learn a few things about how to overcome this.

I’ve also figured out what my real job is both for myself, and for my clients.

It’s to remind myself, and my clients at an individual level, of a fundamental truth about money that’s all to easy to forget.

Jesus gently pointed it out.

Obama’s got it figured out  (5th from the top)

and not surprisingly, I now discover Seth Godin’s got it all sorted too (best bit comes at the end)

ps:  even the Beatles  sang about it here.