Like many who write regular blogs, thoughts are usually influenced by lived experience, either directly or indirectly through family and friends. In the past couple of years, I have had travel stories and adventures to draw and reflect on as I approach the new year with anticipation.

This year the festive season was very different for the Smith family.  As an extended family we had come off the back of a big year and were looking forward to a big Christmas day celebration where we had 4 generations coming together sharing laughs, stories and presents. This year the gathering was at our home.  We each had jobs to do and things to bring for the meal.

A lot of preparation had been made and it was the morning of Christmas day. My wife received a text which changed everything-in an instant; one of her staff members had tested positive for COVID and she was a close contact. Whilst the first of our guests had arrived, we quickly got on the phone and with my parents halfway to our house we made the call that it was safer for them to turn around. My sons family and grandchildren also made the same call as his partner is expecting their third child in the coming months.  It was very hard to come to grips with and there was a roller coaster of immediate emotion of how our day turned south very quickly at the flick of a text.  We then went off to join the queues on Christmas Day and get tested. We then enjoyed 7 days of quarantine and yes the tests were negative and received back very promptly.

Relative to other families and some of the real hardships they have had to face in the last 18 months this was a minor inconvenience. I reminded my family that we still had each other. We also got to have an extra special post New Years catch up as a collective group.

What the experience did bring home to me was the unbelievable and tireless efforts of the front-line health workers and the testers.  I witnessed the fantastic job they are doing first hand and am very grateful for the work that they have done and continue to do.

It also gave me some perspective that firstly, you should never assume that things will always go to plan and secondly, to be mindful when we think that we have been impacted or hard done by that there will be many others that have felt a lot more hardship.

I live in a suburb in Queensland which is close the main roadway connected to the ambulance and fire station. A reminder trigger for me during this festive break was the  sound of the siren which immediately triggered me to think of the families of those impacted by that emergency call.

Flip it the other way, it is the resilience and attitude that we demonstrate when we face those little bumps, it is the gratitude that we show for what we have got in the moment as individuals and as a collective community. It is the modesty and compassion that we show for those that may be less fortunate. That demonstrates our true character and reflects the spirit of this time of the year.

When we think about true financial wellness, I think principles such as resilience, gratitude and modesty can go a long way to finding financial equilibrium.  What is important is creating an environment or support structure around our finances where you also get to hear the occasional siren just to bring a little reality to the situation.  It is about continual review of what is important to us and what it is that we should be grateful for.