Last year, my family began a new adventure to more intentionally use our resources to deepen our connections as a family. It took us to Germany for a soccer tournament that was our version of an iconic bucket-list-worthy experience.
This year our non-financial planning goals took us to the Pacific Northwest to escape the Florida heat and try a different kind of beach than we are used to - one you can build a fire pit on without fear of arrest.
The sixteen of us converged on Cannon Beach, OR - home of the famous Haystack Rock made instantly recognizable to my generation because of the movie, The Goonies. We had an amazing time exploring the unique coastline (to Floridians, any kind of elevation change is a site to be seen), hiking through forests trails that spilled out onto beaches, eating fresh seafood, and enjoying s’mores on the beach late at night.
One unscripted night I grabbed our conversation starting cards from Tales.com - my favorite source for prompting engagement. Interwoven between the conversations of upcoming family plans and roasted marshmallows we decided to pass out some cards. Here’s how we make this work:
Let the grandkids pick 2-3 cards to read to themselves and then have them pick their favorite one to share with everyone
We start with the questions aimed at the grandparents first and then the parents can chime in next
We plan to go around one time (with 8 grandkids, that usually occupies the younger one’s attention span) and will extend it if we feel like it - you can always add more vs. wear everyone out
That’s it. We normally would do this around a dinner table or while serving dessert of some kind (if you know our family you know dessert will always be involved), but the backdrop of the Haystack, an ocean-side fire and a chilly evening created an iconic moment for me - a memory I hope to treasure more than One-Eyed Willy (Goonies reference if you don’t know).
This is what financial planning looks like through the lens of human flourishing - the idea that your financial stability should create a stage for your relationships, your health, and your values to play out.
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