It’s an exciting time of year: the weather is getting warmer, the end of the school year is nearing, maybe your vacation is coming up … and many families mark the beginning of the summer season with Memorial Day. We all love to have a day off from work, get together with friends, and maybe enjoy a dip in the pool, right?
I’d like to ask you to take a moment to pause this week and really think about the meaning behind Memorial Day.
In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Memorial Day as a national “day of prayer for permanent peace.” He said:
Let us make [Memorial Day] one of twofold dedication. Let us reverently honor those who have fallen in war, and rededicate ourselves to the cause of peace, to the end that the day may come when we shall never have another war—never another Unknown Soldier.
I love how Eisenhower called upon us to focus on two things: honoring those who gave everything for our country and a hopeful vision of a peaceful world without war and violent conflict.
When I was younger, I remember asking my parents why we celebrated such a sad holiday, and they shared this speech with me. I realized it’s about gratitude and hope. Ever since I read those words, Memorial Day has had a new meaning and held a special place in my heart. I’m so grateful for the freedoms we enjoy – and for those who fought to uphold them. And I’m hopeful we can work toward a more peaceful world together.
I hope that on this Memorial Day, you’ll find space to honor those sacrifices, as well as celebrate the freedoms you enjoy because of them.
You can read Eisenhower’s entire Memorial Day proclamation here.
About VALUABLES
Many financial advisors focus on communicating with clients to provide complex analysis of the investment markets and economies. However, we have learned that most clients are not particularly interested in this complex analysis. Most clients hire an advisor for their knowledge of the markets, not for their ability to explain that knowledge. Most want to know what time it is, not how to build a watch.
Experience has taught us that wealthy families care most about using their wealth as a means to a desirable end, which is to achieve a more satisfying, fulfilled and impactful life, and to fulfill their most important Life Values.
VALUABLES is a periodic article series focused on the concepts, systems, and habits which we have observed among families who have been successful in this quest to use their wealth as a tool to live a life of significance. The most successful families share a set of habits, systems, and insights which enable them to use their wealth as a tool to fulfill their Values and what is most important to them.
We named this article series VALUABLES, because it provides an exploration of those habits, systems, and insights. We hope it will help you to consider your assets and possessions which are most valuable to you, and how you can use your financial wealth to enhance and cultivate your true “Valuables”.
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