As we approach one of my favorite times of the year, Thanksgiving, into the holiday season, I constantly have flash back memories of those holiday traditions as a kid. Depending on what house and what holiday, we had the ‘kids’ table all the way through being young adults. The conversations and the food seemed to be equally spicy as we all aged. We would also poke fun at each other, in a loving manner of course, and I was picked on for something I did every Thanksgiving on how I specifically consumed my ample plate of food.
I call it the perfect bite. And quite bluntly, it is part of the reason I enjoy Thanksgiving so much. I filled my plate of very calculated amounts of food. Then, I would fill my fork to perfection for a many single ‘perfect bites.’ My fork has a small piece of turkey (dark or white meat), a crisp piece of stuffing, a touch of the jellied cranberry (Ocean Spray out of the can with the ripples on the side – if you know, you know) and then a healthy amount of a perfect mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes need to be russet based with a hint of chive, cheese, salt and pepper. If all these ingredients are not the perfect ratio – then the perfect bite doesn’t exist.
Why Mr. Potato Head? Well, as a kid I couldn’t find the perfect mashed potato, so I had to create my own. With the base of Russet potatoes, I add some milk, butter, cream, freshly shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, fresh chives, touch of freshly ground garlic, salt and pepper. I always make too much because this perfect bite turns into the fundamental making of the sandwich the next day!
But not everyone has the same perfect bite. Just like in someone’s financial plan – we are all searching for happiness and fulfillment – but how we find that is different. Your fully integrated financial planning team will help you (and be the support i.e., the fork), but you need to decide what ingredients are on the fork.
Until next time….
