Life is Short: Don’t Put Joy On Hold

I got the sad news this weekend that my dear uncle passed away at 91. Not only was he my last living connection to my mom, who died when I was 20, and to pieces of family history I had just begun exploring—but he meant a great deal to me.

I had missed a chance to connect with him recently, and his passing reminded me how quickly life can change. So often, we let the busyness of life get in the way of what’s most important. Or we tell ourselves we should put the fun things in life—the things that bring us joy and create lasting memories—on hold because we’re carrying debt. We convince ourselves that those moments will have to wait until our finances are “better.” But life is short and sometimes it doesn’t wait for us to get everything in order first.

As a financial coach, I don’t believe in deprivation. Not only is that not how you should live your life, but it isn’t sustainable. It’s like being on a crash diet that never ends, and eventually you break down and eat all the cake. It’s not an all-or-nothing proposition. Life should be about balance.

That doesn’t mean being irresponsible and adding to your debt. It means giving yourself permission to plan for memory-making moments and incorporate what brings you happiness, while working toward other goals like paying off debt.

So if you’ve ever felt guilty for doing something fun while paying off debt—let that go. Life is meant to be lived.

May this week be a gentle reminder to tell the people you love how much they mean to you – and to enjoy your week ahead.