Times Like These…
The last couple of weeks have brought upon each and every one of us a tremendous amount of disruption. The emotions that have caused it have been varied, swift and powerful. There is a great deal of fear and sadness for how COVID-19 is causing chaos in our everyday lives. We know these emotions because we too are human and the constant deluge of information coming at us is overwhelming. But what we are not feeling right now is panic. After all, history has shown us that it is times like these where people have a chance to take a step back, take a deep breath and realize the why behind everything that we are trying to accomplish in our lives.
Turn Lemons into Lemonade
Right now there are things happening that make some of us very disappointed, like the cancelling of March Madness, the NBA, NHL and The Masters. For others there is chaos trying to line up a way to either work from home, find a babysitter or a place for the kids to go that is safe while schools have been cancelled. It is not a fun time, but it can be a GREAT experience if we make it that way. This gives us a chance to slow down and spend some time with those that mean the most to us. To turn off the TV during the times that the games would have been on and read that book that has been collecting dust next to the bed. To reach out to a friend or family member that has grown distant because of the constant hamster wheel of life that many have been on for a long time. It seems that the pause button has been hit, but it is not permanent. It is only temporary. Things will return back to normal and what we do during this time matters. It is not a time to panic.
Go Back to Your Plan
The same goes with your financial goals and the decisions that we make regarding investments. When the markets get volatile like this, in the past it has presented an opportunity to those who have goals and are investing towards them. That is why we have our GAPP process here at Walkner Condon Financial Advisors. We identify the Goals our clients have, Analyze their situation, Plan for the future and how to best accomplish them and then Personalize the advice based on all of that information. We see this time as a great opportunity for our clients that entrust us to be patient, resolute and focus on the long term. There will be more disruptions in our lives like this. The media will scream how terrible things are. We will have a chance to tell someone about how during COVID-19 it was an opportunity to focus on what matters and what an impact it had on our lives. It is times like these… let’s not let this opportunity pass us by.
Take Action
Wash your hands. Be aware of those around you that could use a helping hand, a meal, or just some company through a phone call or a visit. Fred Rodgers once said, “when I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ’look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.‘ ” Thank your friends in the medical field and law enforcement. Go be a helper. This too shall pass.