March 2023

Spending time doing what’s important to you is crucial for leading a fulfilling and satisfying life. It allows you to prioritize what truly matters to you and dedicate your time and energy towards achieving your goals and aspirations. I know, this isn’t earth-shattering news. However, many people struggle to make time for what they truly value due to various distractions and obligations. 

The first step towards spending time doing what’s important to you is to identify what those things are. Take some time to reflect on what truly matters to you and what brings you joy and fulfillment. It could be pursuing a hobby, spending time with loved ones, or working towards your career goals. 

Once you’ve identified your priorities, it’s important to create a schedule that allows you to allocate time towards those things. This may require making some adjustments to your daily routine or even saying no to certain commitments that do not align with your values and goals. 

It’s also important to remember that spending time doing what’s important to you doesn’t always have to be a grand gesture. It could be as simple as taking a few minutes every day to practice mindfulness or setting aside an hour each week to work on a passion project. 

Easier said than done for many of us, including yours truly. As much as I find it difficult to take time off, OR take time off while not still thinking about work, I’m much better at it than I used to be. That’s the beauty of a work partnership and team approach. There are likely psychological reasons for my being this way (control freak, want to please, sense of duty, fear of not reaching goals, etc.), but after a few years of life on earth and learning a thing or two, I spend less time trying to change who I am, and focus on 

spending time doing what’s important to me as an essential part of living a “fulfilling life”. It requires intentional effort and may require some sacrifices, but the rewards are well worth it. 

– Don’t be overheard complaining, not even to yourself.

– Don’t talk more than you listen; two ears, one mouth.

– Don’t tie your identity to things you own; those things are fragile and can be taken away at any time.

– Don’t compare yourself to others; comparison is the thief of joy.

– Don’t suffer imagined troubles; it’ll either happen or it won’t. 

– Don’t suffer before you need to; you mess up too so don’t judge other people.

– Don’t overindulge in food and drink; temperance is the key – it’s about balance and the “right amount”.

Till next month, Stay Healthy & Safe – 

Derek, Natalie, Mo & Arwin

Almost 3 years ago (September 2020) smoke came in from the August Complex Fire near Mendocino National Forest, but high winds were keeping the smoke at a high altitude, instead of settling near the surface. One Wednesday morning, the wind shifted, now bringing ash from the rapidly growing Bear Fire near Chico down over the Bay Area. Our clients Jonathan and Tessa had just closed the day before on a beautiful condo, and I went to meet them early in the morning to hand them the keys. I took this picture of them on the rear deck, and jokingly asked if they regretted moving here from Chicago. Thankfully, we ALL knew this was a phenomenon, and not likely to be repeated any time soon. Now all we need to worry about are atmospheric rivers and bomb cyclones.

That is, until the Big Quake.  ;-)

* Money supply remains 39% higher than it was before the Covid-19 pandemic. In other words, the amount of liquidity in the system is still significantly elevated, and too much money chasing too few goods and services can spell inflation. (BARRONS)