I recently saw the movie Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps on DVD. Oliver Stone does a superb job in presenting an inside look at how Wall Street works and the personalities of the top players who make up this world. When his first film Wall Street came out in the late 80s, a whole generation of investors must have been inspired by the movie’s famous quote “Greed is good” given the way many banks and investment firms ended up practically destroying our economy.

This time around however, the quote that takes center stage is a far cry from anything having to do with the relentless pursuit of money at any cost. The main character, Gordon Gekko, has supposedly evolved a bit. After serving 23 years in jail for a very serious Securities and Exchange Commission violation, he is now singing a different tune and states, “If there’s one thing I learned in prison, it’s that money is not the prime commodity in our lives…time is.”

I like this quote. I like it a lot. In the last several years I have become a big believer in just how valuable time is in our fast paced chaotic modern world. There are many forms of wealth that have nothing to do with money or material possessions and time is definitely one of those. While our capitalistic culture continues to bombard us with messages of how we need more material possessions in order to be happy, let’s flip that message around and replace it with time.

One can have all the money in the world but if you don’t have time to live life, then what good is all that money? Many of us though can’t seem to find enough time in our day to spend time with those we love or do the things that nurture our souls. What to do, huh? Baby steps are one way to reclaim this priceless asset. Start out by finding one hour a day that belongs completely to you to do whatever it is that suits your fancy.

Get clear on what you want more time for and you will find it easier to motivate yourself to find that extra hour. I love yoga and it’s important for me to find the time to take a class each day or practice on my own. Yoga makes me feel better and it replenishes me spiritually. Knowing these rewards await me, I’m more apt to find the extra time each day even if it means something else gets pushed to the backburner.

Turn off the TV. Unless spending more time in front of the boob tube is one of your life’s main ambitions, I can’t stress how important this is if you want more time in your life. Watching TV can be a major time killer if you’re not careful. Not being a cable subscriber has been one of the best decisions my husband I have ever made. We save money and time. That extra time is put towards being together more and participating in the activities we enjoy doing.

Get up an hour earlier. I’m not going to lie to you and say I’m up at the crack of dawn every morning raring to go. Like a lot of people, I find it hard to drag myself out of bed each day but I make myself do it. Very seldom do I sleep past 7am because if I allow myself to do so then I run the risk of never getting up. I love the time I spend with myself first thing in the morning. I brew a cup of coffee, feed the cats and take a few seconds to walk out on my front porch and breathe in the morning air.

Downsize your expectations. We can only do so much and not everything we do has to be perfect. Perhaps your house may not be as clean as you like or not every item on your “to do” list will always get done. By cutting yourself some slack and lowering your standards a bit, you can free up some time to do something more exciting.

Learn to say no to those things you don’t want to do. We don’t have to accept every social invitation, volunteer for every event that comes our way, or constantly be available to people who suck the life out of us. Use discretion in how you spend your free time and don’t over commit. Saying no takes practice but freeing up your schedule by giving yourself more time is oh so worth it. Time is definitely a prime commodity but Wall Street doesn’t sell it. You have to create it for yourself.

Fall Leaves in Nikko, Japan

Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves.  ~Edwin Way Teale

No matter how much we simplify our outer lives what good is it if we don’t have inner simplicity? All of the physical steps we take to simplify our lives are important but they don’t automatically guarantee inner solitude.  A de-cluttered home and debt free finances are great but if we feel all chaotic inside then we are missing out on peace and tranquility which is the main reason most of us simplify in the first place.

Achieving inner simplicity takes work but it’s enjoyable work if you do it right. I don’t claim to be an expert on achieving inner peace but I can offer a few suggestions on some things that are working for me. I hope you find them helpful and share any suggestions you may have as well.

Spend some time each day in prayer and/or meditation. Countless studies have shown that people who pray and mediate on a daily basis have better health, lower stress levels and experience more happiness. I do yoga almost every day and I consider it to be mediation in motion. This works great for my very busy mind because I have not yet mastered meditating by sitting still. I also have several prayers that I say throughout the day that give me comfort and peace.

Engage in exercise you enjoy. You won’t ever find me in a gym or lifting weights. It’s simply not my thing. Where you will find me is in a yoga studio or on a hiking trail. I now only participate in exercise that I like and that makes me feel good about myself. The byproduct is I feel great and I’m healthier than ever. Just because I don’t dig gyms or weights doesn’t mean they are not valid. The point is to do what you enjoy. Exercise is important to our inner and outer well being so your chances of sticking with it are better if you like what you’re doing.

Take a walk. I try to take a walk almost every day. Getting out in the fresh air even if only for 15 minutes does me a world of good. Some people argue that they don’t have time to take a walk each day but I challenge you to find a few minutes each day to go outside and enjoy the outdoors. Give up watching the news when you get home or use the last 10 minutes of your lunch hour to stroll around your office park. Don’t set yourself up for failure with an overly ambitious time schedule. Start small and then go from there.

Get plenty of sleep. Each of us has different needs. I feel best with 7-8 hours per night. Any less and I can really start to drag. Find the right amount for you and do your best to get that time each and every night. The quality of your life will drastically improve.

Quit worrying excessively about money. There’s nothing that interferes more with our inner peace of mind than worrying about money. If you are paying your bills and are out of debt or working on a plan to get out of debt then let go a little. If you study the history of banking and fiat currencies, you will discover that unless you are a member of the banking elite much about money is out of our control anyway. Even if every currency in the world fell tomorrow, there would still be natural resources, knowledge, labor, and new ideas. Money is just an idea and an idea that we sometimes give way too much power to. Concentrate on inner abundance and not how many zeros are on your bank ledger.

Limit your media intake. I like to keep up with current events as much as the next person but there are so many media outlets completing for my attention that it makes my head spin. Much of journalism today is not really journalism nor is it investigative in any way. Sadly, too many of the mainstream media outlets first priority is to their shareholders and not their viewers. They meet their monetary obligations to their shareholders by having good ratings.  Fear and sensationalism help them to accomplish this. Keep this in mind the next time you get all worked up about some story that has absolutely no effect on your life at all.

Quit engaging in non-productive political arguments. I used to love to discuss politics until I had the enormous epiphany that I would never change anyone’s mind. I can’t speak for other countries but politics in the US has become like a sporting event and a very bad event at that! Very few people are interested in meaningful dialogue because so many just want to win an argument at any cost. I now carefully choose who I discuss this volatile subject with and make sure the person is interested in a civil exchange of ideas and not a reenactment of a Fox News or MSNBC roundtable showdown whose only goal is to bring in money for their corporate sponsors.

Give yourself a set period of time to do nothing each week. Ideally, I would love to give myself one day a week to do nothing but often I have to settle for a half-day on the weekends. When I say do nothing I don’t mean I sit on my couch staring into space. Nothing for me means not having any set plans. I take it as it comes and do what suits my fancy. Sometimes I’ll read a book or watch a documentary. Other times I will play with my cats.

The Sacred Bridge in Nikko Japan

I’ve been reading a lot lately about digital sabbaticals. Always on the quest to simplify my life, this concept was of particular interest to me even though I had never heard of it before much less experienced one. What exactly is a digital sabbatical? A digital sabbatical is dedicating one day or more to being away from any of your on-line activities. That includes e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, message boards, and anything else that the wonderful world of on-line bliss provides for us.

I’m a very “wired in” kind of gal. I love technology and am constantly in wonderment of it, but like everything in life, balance is the key. Until last week I had no clue as to the extent I was addicted to spending time on-line. What prompted this epiphany for me? A yoga retreat to Nikko, Japan! Thanks to my  husband who held the animal fort down while I was away, I had the good fortune to spend a week in this beautiful town located in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan about 90 miles north of Tokyo.

I had a fantastic experience that will live forever in my heart. The Japanese are some of the most gracious people on the planet. I also admired their minimalistic décor and spirit of community. You can bet you will be hearing more from me in the months ahead about this beautiful country and its even more beautiful people.

But back to the business of taking digital breaks. When I arrived in Japan, the first thing to go was the cell phone. My carrier had told me that phone calls would be $2.40 a minute and even worse, I ran the risk of being charged up to $30 a pop each time my internet service ran updates. Needless to say, I figured it best to just not turn the dang thing on. At first this was weird because with the exception of yoga classes, I’m used to having my cell phone on pretty much all the time. Imagine the culture shock when I arrived at the train station in Nikko and had to call the hotel using a pay phone. I’m surprised I even found one but I did.

At the hotel, I quickly found out that internet service was available only in the lobby. Since I didn’t travel over 5,000 miles to spend the majority of my time hanging out in a hotel lobby, I decided then and there to unplug from the on-line world. My only exceptions to this rule were e-mailing my husband a few times to assure him I was still safe and sound and scheduling my last blog posting I wrote on the plane for later in the week.

I had planned to blog several times from Japan and check in on all my favorite sites as well. I was going to keep up with the political buzz as we moved into the 2010 midterm elections. Posting beautiful pictures from Japan on Facebook and tweeting about my adventures was also on my agenda. I did none of these things. Instead I excused myself from cyber space and hiked, visited old Buddhist temples, and attended other fun activities like a Japanese tea ceremony. Oh and I did tons of yoga as well. I made lots of friends and I laughed a lot.

I arrived back in LA on Halloween, just in time for my husband and me to celebrate in our usual fashion. Monday rolled around and I still wasn’t ready to jump full speed back into all that was digital so I took it easy for a few more days. It was a much needed fabulous break.

I’m now inspired to take a day or two off every so now and then. It’s great for the soul and great for the psyche. You don’t have journey to a faraway location to un-plug. One can do it right where they are. If you haven’t had a full day of a digital sabbatical in quite some time, I encourage you to go ahead and try it. You will survive. I promise. As a matter of fact you will survive quite nicely. I know I did!

Hiking Trail in Topanga Canyon, CA

Is it just me or have we Americans created ridiculously complicated lives? Our monetary system is incredibly complex and our health care system has layers and layers of bureaucracy.  The cars we drive are complicated and very few of us understand how to fix them when something goes wrong. It seems there was a time when small complications could be taken care of quite easily in one’s own garage but not anymore.

Making a major purchase like a house involves stacks and stacks of paper work and most people don’t even understand the documents they sign. I’m all for choice but when I walk into a store there are so many choices that I’m often overwhelmed and want to go running for the exit. There are countless other examples of complexity but these are just a few that come to my mind as I write this entry.

What’s a girl to do, huh? I want a peaceful tranquil life. I don’t want to spend the majority of  my time bogged down in what I see as a lot of unnecessary complications. Certainly we were not put on this planet to spend disproportionate amounts of our time pursuing such mundane endeavors. It’s hard to enjoy life when our day to day routines are more complicated than a physics equation.

Here’s a few things I’m doing to “un-complicate” my life and make it as simple as possible. When life is simple I have more time to enjoy life and more time to spend doing those things I love.

• Lowering my standards when it comes to housework: My house does not have to constantly be spotless. As long as it is somewhat clean and the litter box is not overflowing with kitty poo then why does my house need to look like a Better Homes and Garden layout every day?
• Personal Grooming: I don’t have to constantly “dress up” and look like a fashion plate every day. I’m not advocating skipping showering or brushing my teeth, but do I need to put on eye makeup every day? Do I need to coif my hair perfectly?
• Controlling information overload: I don’t have to keep up with everything happening in the news. Some days it’s ok to take a break. This one is hard for me because I’m a political junkie and love to keep up with what’s going on in the world.  Besides, much of the information is just the same old same old.
• Food Preparation: Not every meal has to be an elaborate feast. Some nights it’s ok to just have a salad and some soup. Or maybe a baked potato with fun toppings. Thanks to Trader Joe’s I can get lots of healthy pre-made food at a reasonable cost.
• Paperwork: I’m trying to eliminate as much paper from my life as I can. I’m doing this by saving as much information as I can to my computer. If there is a hard copy that I must keep, then I will make a file for it, but most things can be scanned to your computer. This eliminates a lot of clutter.
• Only buying what I really need: I’ve been on a real minimalist kick these past couple of years.  The less time I have to spend on the upkeep of material possessions, the more time I have for the important things in life.

A simple life is a rich life.  What are you doing to simplify your life?

Tiny hummingbird in nest outside my neighbor's house

I’m a firm believer that abundance is for everyone. It’s our birthright from the time we take our first breath until the time we take our last. And I for one am also expecting a great deal of abundance in the afterlife as well.

The same way I feel everyone has talent and creativity, everyone has something in their life that is abundant. There are different forms of creativity and there are different forms of abundance. I don’t care how much money someone has or doesn’t have – no one has a monopoly on abundance. Just because Bill and Belinda Gates have more money than they know what to do with doesn’t mean they are any more abundant than you or me. And I bet they would be the first to tell you this is true.

www.dictionary.com defines abundance as:

1. an extremely plentiful or over sufficient quantity or supply
2. overflowing fullness
3. affluence; wealth

Any innuendo possibly referring to money is not even mentioned until the third definition.  Although abundance can mean money, it also means so much more. What do you have an abundance of in your life? Love, friends, family, laughter, fun?

I have an abundance of joy lately. You would think that going on month 6 of unemployment would be getting me down a bit. Miraculously, it’s been the exact opposite. Not that I don’t from time to time worry about the future and money, but I’m finding abundance in so many other areas.  I have more love in my life than is probably legal, thanks to my husband, friends, family, and pets. I have an abundance of time to read, write, and exercise. I get plenty of sleep every night and I haven’t caught any of the nasty flus or colds that having been going around the past several months. (Knock on wood!)

I have every faith that I will be taken care of and abundance will continue to be mine.  When I do enter the fear mode, I remind myself of the advice Jesus gave to his disciples. I hope you find his words as empowering as I do.

²⁵“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^?

²⁸“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34 (New International Version)

Rainbow over Maui

Special Note: I am thrilled to present the following guest post from blogger Jill Brown of The Duchess Guide.

Beliefs are only thoughts you keep thinking about over and over. So let me ask you this? What are your thoughts about success?

On January 15th, 2009 an Airbus A320 commercial airline took off from New York City’s La Guardia Airport en route to North Carolina. The crew of five and one hundred and fifty passengers enjoyed roughly six minutes of ascent into the clouds as they departed Manhattan on their journey. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, the plane experienced what is known in the aviation world as “bird strike.” The behemoth plane, already on its way up, crossed paths with a flock of comparatively small and insignificant Canadian Geese. The only problem for US Airways Flight 1549, and all other aircraft, is that while small in comparison – birds of a feather are incredibly dangerous to safe flight. The Canadian Geese caused the jet engines to fail and the pilot was forced to ditch the plane into the frigid waters of the Hudson.

Luckily in the story of Flight 1549 – we already know that all 155 individuals on the plane lived and were safely rescued from the floating airplane in the Hudson River. However, there are countless flights that have encountered the bird strike scenario and not lived to tell about it.

How can something so relatively tiny be so totally destructive? How can a twenty pound bird bring down a high-flying, powerful 93,000 pound plane?

Speed, velocity and the energy of aerodynamics are the answer!

And this story is a perfect illustration of how your beliefs about success, money and what is important in life are often just programmed illusions since birth. Yes, money is important. But what about other meanings of success? How many times have you been flying high, happy, unstoppable, an object in blissful motion toward your pie in the sky dreams – only to have a negative “bird strike” thought or comment from another bring you crashing down? Don’t let these old beliefs or unhappy naysayers sabotage your journey and high flying dreams! There is a broader definition of success that includes health, going after your dreams, loving what you do, making time for love and family and caring for your spirit and body which are absolute essentials in a wealthy life.

As certain as there are planes which are downed by bird strikes, there are even more that encounter this scenario and have the strength and power (through great design and planning) to stay in the air. Don’t let others bring drag you down into the keeping up with the neighbors game. Use the tools of meditation, affirmations and self-assessment to dig deep inside into what you really believe success and wealth mean. These tools will keep you properly prepared for the next time an ugly, negative belief  (or discouraging comment from a disconnected person) rears its head and tries to bring you down. When you have the strength, the tools and the knowledge – you can keep yourself flying ahead, on course and experiencing your own belief of what success really means.

Jill is a Los Angeles, California-based coach and writer. She is the author of the weekly inspirational column, Duchess Digest, on Single Minded Woman.com and is the founder of Duchess, LLC; a business dedicated to helping and inspiring the best in all women. Additionally she is the co-host of a bi-weekly podcast show, Your Life Your Style, on blog talk radio. You can join her free weekly newsletter packed with tools, tips and inspiration through her website: www.theduchessequation.com and follow her on twitter: @JilltheDuchess. When Jill isn’t writing or coaching, she loves to travel, study cultures and do anything outdoors with her Labrador Betty.

Our trusty Toyota Prius

Several years ago, my husband’s 86’ Volvo started having major problems. We didn’t feel the expense to maintain the car was worth it, so we donated her to an animal charity-Animal Farm. Thus this event marked the beginning of our one car household experiment.

As we set out on this adventure we were curious to see if we could do it. And more importantly, could we do it in Los Angeles- a city where one car per person is seen by many as a necessity. Since I love to challenge the “status-quo” I was gun-ho to make a one car household a reality, even if only for a few short years.

It’s been over four years now, and I’m happy to report our attempt to get by with one car has been successful. When I mention to people we only have one car, many are shocked but curious to know how we do it.  I tell them that coordinating work schedules is the most difficult aspect, but it can be done. Once we got into the swing of things, it became second nature.

I would drop my husband off at work every morning and then head on over to my workplace. We decided I would keep the car during the day since my employer did not charge us to park and my husband’s employer did. In the evenings, I would swing by and get David. Sometimes, he had to wait ½ hour or so, but we still figured the savings were worth it. If he ever wanted to go on without me, he would hop on the Big Blue Bus and make it home in less than an hour.

The rest is easy because we do most errands and socializing together anyway. If one person needs the car for something the other is not involved in, then we adjust and accommodate each other. In other words, we have learned to share. So far there have been no fights!

When we began the transition to a one car household, we told ourselves (and still do) that if at any time our quality of life begins to drastically suffer, then we would make a trade-off somewhere else in our budget and buy a new car. So far so good! We’ve been successful because we have been willing to be inconvenienced a little bit in order to save money. However, the interesting thing is since we have settled into this lifestyle we haven’t felt inconvenienced at all.

Our main reason for not getting another car was the expense. It didn’t make financial sense to us to buy another car that would just sit in a parking garage all day while we were at work.  We also like the environmental impact as well, although I’ll admit it was not our main motivation. However it was our motivation to buy our 2001 Toyota Prius when those came out on the market.

Our one car household decision has proved to be a Godsend for us now that I’m not working. I still take David to work and pick him up at the end of the day. Since our income is much less than it was when I was working, not having additional expenses for an extra car is a great factor in helping us get through this chapter in our lives.

Living with one car between two people has made our lives much richer. We keep more of our hard earned money and we have quality visiting time on our commutes. More importantly, we are learning that you don’t have to follow the crowd and do certain things just because everyone else is doing them. And of course we are learning to share-just like they taught us in kindergarten!

Sunset over Redondo Beach, CA

Anything simple always interests me.  ~David Hockney

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the The Simple Living Network, I highly recommend you take some time to check out this great site. You won’t regret it. If the idea of slowing down and simplifying your life is appealing to you, the wonderful resources on the The Simple Living Network will help you do just that!

I came across this site several years ago and have found the articles, book recommendations, and links to other resources invaluable. After hiding in the background for several years, I recently took the plunge and joined the discussion forums and I’m having a blast. It’s a great community and so inspiring. I love knowing there are others
out there like me because it helps keep me focused and on track.

Now don’t confuse simple living with poverty or deprivation. Simple living is a lifestyle choice that allows a richer inner life through a simpler outer life. Like wealth, simple living can have many definitions as well. There are no rules when it comes to living simply. One person’s idea of simple living might be to pare down to as few possessions as possible while another person’s definition  might be planting a food garden in their backyard.

My personal definition of simple living is cutting out the things in my life that no longer serve me or the greater good of the planet. By keeping it simple, I stay focused on those things that enhance my life the most. I’m also much more mindful of my consumer choices and how they affect the environment, because I want to do my part in treating Mother Nature the way a lady should be treated.

Before I was introduced to the concepts of simple living, I always felt disorganized and rushed. It seemed like I never had any quality time to myself.  Being the ultimate people pleaser, I was always accepting invitations out of obligation when what I really yearned for was a few quiet moments alone to reflect and regroup.  I was always on the go and never able to fully enjoy the present moment. Then one day while browsing in Border’s bookstore on my lunch break, I found a book called Simplify Your Life by Elaine St. James. I found the whole concept of voluntary simplicity fascinating. Hungry for more ammunition to help me in my quest to take back my life, I started surfing the web for more information and that’s when I found The Simple Living Network.

Since I have begun this path, some of my results are as follows:

No Debt- One of the ways I did this was by taking the bus to work and freeing up the money I would have spent on gas and parking to pay off bills. Our household has still managed to remain debt free (with the exception of a car repair bill I blogged about a few months ago, but hey that’s almost paid off, thanks to simple living principles!)

More Time for my Interests-One example is Yoga. It’s my passion and I practice several times a week. It’s my priority so it takes precedence over shopping at the mall, attending social events I have no interest in, and lounging on the couch watching reality TV.

Quality Time with my Husband-My husband and I keep our calendars very simple so we can spend time with each other. We like hanging out together which is one of the reasons we got married! Our favorite time of the week is Friday night. We order take-out from our favorite neighborhood restaurant and watch paranormal or crime documentaries.  (Yes, we’re a bit twisted! )

Quality Time with Friends-Since I have cut back on activities I have no interest in, I have more time to hang out with my friends and family. We don’t have to go to a fancy restaurant or over-priced concert. I can have just as much fun going out for coffee, taking a hike together, or sharing a bottle of wine while sitting on my front porch.

Massive De-cluttering- I have thrown out so much junk over the last few years. I still think I have too much but it’s nothing like it used to be. Now that I have less, I can  now more fully enjoy what I do have.

Respect for the Environment-I have never been against protecting the environment but I used to think it was something I had no control over. I now know different. Each of us can make a difference. Owning a fuel efficient car, choosing walking over driving when it’s feasible, and recycling, are just a few of the many positive habits I have developed which are helping me lessen my footprint on the world.

A More Creative Life-I no longer feel I have to live life a certain way. I can create the life that works best for me and not what advertisers or the status-quo say are best.

I’m still simplifying my life. It’s a constant journey and I’m loving every minute of it.

Me-Just Happy to be Alive!

Society has conditioned us to believe our wealth is measured by money and material possessions. However, our real wealth and true net worth expand much further than the numbers in our bank accounts.  If we limit ourselves to a narrow definition of wealth, we will never be able to fully enjoy life and experience our true riches.

Our current monetary system produces a lack mindset and leads us to believe we must constantly be chasing the dollar if we want to be happy and content. Messages of accumulating more, more, more are constantly thrown at us, and as we strive for bigger and better, it’s often never enough. Our longings for more seem to go to infinity.  We think that if only we had a bigger house, a job making 20% more, a fancier car, then we would really be set. But then we find out nothing could be further from the truth.  Often when we do end up with more, we find that the void we thought would be full is still empty.

Our economy is in intensive care, and there is no clear indication of when things will be better.  This is the perfect time to reexamine our thoughts and ideas about wealth. How empowering is it to define your net worth by an outdated and dysfunctional money game that is rigged for an elite few and is constantly upping the ante for the rest of us? Although the current system is our reality for the time being, we need not give it any more power than is absolutely necessary. As we shift our thinking, we realize our true wealth is the things that money just can’t compete with or provide.

The list below outlines some alternative ways to tally up your real net worth, so review it and see how you measure up. I bet you are worth gazillions!

• Your Health-It may sound like a cliché, but your health is your greatest wealth.  If you feel lousy, it doesn’t matter how much money you have stashed away or how many summer homes you own. More importantly, if you have bad health, it’s harder to enjoy your other riches such as your friends, family, and passions. Don’t take your good health lightly. It’s one of your greatest assets. If you think not, then talk to someone who is suffering from a serious illness. Most people who are seriously ill see a bigger picture than those of us who are healthy. Learn from them and start to expand your perceptions of what’s important in life. Wake up every day and thank the deity of your choice for yet another day of good health.

• Your Mate/Partner-What a wonderful thing it is to spend your life with someone you love. Our deepest desires as humans are not really money or the material, but love. Remember when you first fell in love and how great you felt.  Having someone to go through the good times and the bad times makes the journey of life so much easier. It’s a real blessing to have someone special in your life, so cherish them and don’t take them for granted.

• Your Children-Children are priceless! Need I see more?

• Your friends- Families are wonderful but our friends are extra special because we choose each other. We have no control over who our families are, but all the control in the world when it comes to picking our friends. Friends are there to help you through bad times and to share the good times. And when we reciprocate by being there for them, the rewards are two-fold, because we gain the joy of having been there for someone as well. Good friendships allow us to be with people who accept us for who we are and are not forever trying to alter us.

• Your animal companions-Animals friends bring so much joy and fun to our lives. Besides the regular activities we participate in with our animal friends, just watching them as they go about their day to day lives can keep us entertained for hours. Animals teach us to live in the moment and not to fret about the past or worry about the future. Our animal companions are the epitome of unconditional love.

• Free Time- The gift of time to spend in any way you choose is an asset rivaling the most successful monetary investments. What a luxury it is to have time to spend with family and friends, time in nature, time reading and relaxing, time for fun, time for getting adequate sleep, and time to just do nothing if that’s what floats your boat.  The extravagance of time is definitely a valuable commodity and an often under-rated resource.

• Access to Modern Conveniences- The times we live in provide us with more access to technology and modern conveniences than ever before in the world’s history. You have a refrigerator, right? Access to a washer and dryer? What about a TV, computer, microwave, radio, electricity, heat, air conditioning, etc? Compared to past generations, most of us live like royalty. Modern conveniences save us time and make life a whole lot easier.
• Your Life Experiences-Each of us are unique and our life experiences make us who we are. Whether they are good or bad, we can use our experiences to learn, teach, and contribute to those around us. So if you aren’t already, get out there and purposefully start living. You’ll have setbacks for sure, but you will also have many victories as well.

• Your Spirituality-If you are a person who travels a spiritual or religious path, then you know the rewards — peace of mind, comfort, support, a connection with the divine. Spirituality is what feeds our soul and differentiates between the materialistic world and the world we cannot see. We all know deep down there is something more to being alive than just what is in front of us, but so often we forget and get caught up in things that won’t matter in the long run. Our spirituality helps us through the challenging times and keeps us connected to what’s important in life.

• Your Education- An education is not only a degree or certificate. Education is a skill you’ve learned, or a book you’ve read that inspires conversation and thought.  Whether it is a degree from a fancy university, a trade school certificate, or information acquired from the local library, all are forms of education and are very valuable. Once you learn something, it’s yours for the keeping and can never be taken away from you.

• You Humor- Laughter has a way of soothing the human spirit and making us whole again. If you have the gift of humor and have people around to laugh with you, know that you have an asset that can carry you through most anything this crazy life sends your way.