Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice — Perspective

It is almost Thanksgiving and Christmas is right around the corner. All of the retailers panicked with 7 fewer days to shop between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The holiday season started off with a BOO!!! This was appreciated and celebrated by some and cursed by others for obvious reasons.

No matter how the holiday season started for you, as Thanksgiving approaches there is a spirit of giving and generosity now more than any other time of year. We try to appreciate our good fortune and give back to those less fortunate. As the New Year approaches, many people make resolutions; positive changes to implement going forward in 2020. Common resolutions including losing weight, eating healthier or becoming more active. Recently it seems trendy to live in the present or practice mindfulness; celebrate each moment. Start your day off in meditation or with positive affirmations before your electronic devices take over.

I have jumped on the wagon and I too try to start my mornings off with quiet time and positivity. Reading encouraging messages and journaling. A bit of peace before the chaos of the day takes over. I did that the other day and I was in my happy place.

I walked downstairs to get my coffee and stepped onto the kitchen mat in front of the sink — squish! The mat was soaked with water. Odd, but I was still in my zone, not fully realizing I had an issue yet. I opened the cabinet under my sink and my blissful morning disappeared… water — lots of water…ugh…

Thankfully, I knew just who to call in this crisis.  I am truly lucky to know this person and have them on speed dial. They fixed the problem that morning. It could have been a lot worse. Just think if I had been out of town and came back a week later? Or two weeks later? That would have been a much bigger problem. Still, would it have been the end of the world? No. No it would not have been. Not good for sure, but not the end of the world. It truly is all about your perspective.

I was initially a bit panicked and irritated. True. But I took a few breaths and stepped back from the situation. Ok, more than a few breaths, and I had some coffee… and then it wasn’t as bad as it first appeared. This is often true with a claim as well. When you are too close to the situation, it can seem like a giant disaster with no way out. Tunnel vision. But, with an outside perspective and a little help, there is almost always a way out. It is manageable.

Perspective becomes more and more important as our world grows ever increasingly interdependent and complicated. How you react to an adverse event or claim can be as crucial as the event itself. Remain calm. Contain the situation so it does not get worse. Get help immediately to provide guidance and limit your risk of exposure for an adverse event.  Pretending it did not happen is never the answer.

ALPS can help answer your questions and put things into perspective. We are here to help when you notice something is not right. We will help you step back and look at the big picture; provide perspective and come alongside of you in your greatest time of need.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays from the ALPS Family to you and yours.