Planning for a Productive Day
Today, I was genuinely excited to have nothing on my calendar pulling me out of town. It was a rare quiet day to write and reflect on the values‑based financial planning work I do, especially for women in complex seasons. It felt like the perfect opportunity to be productive, and finally send out the newsletter to the Flourish Financial Life Planning clients and friends. I’ve worked hard to be consistent, and I want December to be no exception.
Still, as I thought about the day and all I could accomplish, I also realized I hadn’t seen my mom in a week. My mom lives in a memory care facility an hour away. Looking ahead at the rest of the week, today was really the best day to visit her. “I’ll leave at 11:00,” I told myself. That plan would get me back in time for the after‑school pickup line and still leave me with a solid workday.
Packing for a Different Kind of Productivity
Earlier this month, I picked up a little Christmas tree and some ornaments for mom’s room, thinking we could decorate it together. I packed a bag with a few gifts, wrapping paper, labels, and tape so she could help wrap her presents for my sister and me. But as I drove over this morning and watched the minutes slip by, I thought, “We can wrap the presents next week.” That way I could still be back on the road by 11:00, home by 12:15, with four hours left before pickup time.
When I showed Mom the little white pre‑lit tree, she lit up. She immediately began choosing ornaments to hang while telling me about slinging tinsel on her family tree as a little girl.
Tinsel, Carols, and a Moment too Valuable to Miss
Tinsel. I had forgotten all about it. Do you remember the kind that came in a box — not garland, but those thin, shiny silver icicle strands? I hadn’t thought of them in years, until she mentioned it.
To set the holiday mood, I found a Nat King Cole Christmas playlist on my phone,. Mom quickly joined in singing “tidings of comfort and joy.” She was really engaged and peaceful, so I decided maybe we had time to wrap one gift. We laughed as her fingers kept getting stuck on the tape. After we wrapped, bowed and labeled the first box, I checked the time. It was almost 11:00. But I couldn’t leave. I pulled out another present to wrap.
“I’m sorry, newsletter recipients,” I thought. This moment is too valuable to walk away from.
Building a Financial Life That Supports the Seasons You’re In
After all, my mom is one of the reasons I am self‑employed. She is the inspiration for a female focused financial planning firm. Her life has inspired me to offer values‑based financial planning for caregivers, widows and other women navigating complex seasons.
As I drove home later than planned, I thought about how the day had progressed. I thought about the intricacy of caregiving with financial life planning. I realized that the real gift of financial planning isn’t spreadsheets or perfect timing — it’s freedom. Freedom to pause, freedom to show up, and freedom to choose presence over productivity when the moment calls for it.
That’s why I help women build financial lives rooted in intention: so they can create space for the people and experiences that matter most.
Planning for What Matters Most
As you move through this season, consider this simple question. What kind of life are you planning toward — and what small choice today brings you closer to it?
What would you want to explore first if we talked about aligning your finances with your values?
