A Point of View: The Rainbow and the Thunderstorm
At one point or another we have all marveled at the splendor of a rainbow stretching across the horizon. All of the components that make the sky turn into a brilliant display of sparkling colors are all around us all the time - the water vapor, the sunlight, and the wind - but here they all are coming together in just the right way to make a dazzling work of art that fills us with a sense of renewal, peace, and wonder.
The same ingredients that make up that spectacular rainbow - the water vapor, the sunlight, and the wind - can also come together in a violent way and get way out of control to become a giant, violent thunderstorm or hurricane. When this happens, homes are lost, families are broken apart, and people's lives are thrown into unimaginable turmoil.
When you think about it, our finances can be a bit like the weather. In very basic terms, there are three components to money management, too; there is (1) the money we all earn to pay for our "stuff", and there is (2) the stuff that's out there for us to spend our money on. But the most influential component in the money management formula is (3) the people who decide what to buy, how much of it to buy, and when to buy it. In other words, you and me. "What?", you ask. "How can it be my fault? After all, I have all these bills. It seems to me the big bankers and the giant corporations have all the control! Me? I'm always struggling! Am I not a victim of the system?" Well, that's a good enough question. Let me answer with another question. Did some evil banker knock on your door late one night and hold a gun to your head and threaten you if you didn't take your Visa card and go buy that giant flat screen TV right now? Are your neighbors vowing to toilet paper your front yard or throw rocks through your windows if you don't put a newer car in your driveway? Has your fifth grade child sworn to move out and get his or her own place if you don't buy them the $150.00 pair of sneakers? I suspect it is fair to say that none of these things have been an issue for you. You made the decisions to spend your money. If you made good decisions then go ahead, take the credit for a great decision. If it was reckless or foolish, accept responsibility for the decision and take steps to put yourself back on track.
Responsibility. That's a word no one uses anymore. Unless, of course, we are talking about someone else. If you think about it, though, taking responsibility is a very good, a very powerful, thing. It gives you a great deal of control over your life and your future. Yes, it does mean that you have to pony up and accept blame for your mistakes - and we all make mistake - but it also frees you to make your own decisions, to learn from your mistakes, and to profit from the good decisions you make as a result of the lessons learned in the bad decisions. To be responsible is to be honest, to have courage, and to grow. That is not just a good financial plan; it's a pretty good plan for life.
The rainbow or the thunderstorm. Choose wisely.
