$pent Millennial

Dear Reader,

Life is hard.  Money makes it easier.

I know that’s not exactly a revelation—or brain surgery—but it’s something I’ve been sitting with this week.

A few days ago, I got pulled over for a headlight that was out—oops. Even as I nervously searched for my proof of insurance and tried to stay calm, I was very aware of the privilege I held in that moment. Beyond the obvious privilege of being White, I also had the financial stability to navigate the situation with relative ease. My insurance was up to date and fully paid—not something I had to scramble for. It’s part of my regular budget, something I barely think about most months.

The next day, I was able to swing by the store to buy a new bulb, and my partner installed it like a pro. (He actually is a pro.) The potential cost of a ticket? Annoying, but not catastrophic—thanks to a car maintenance sinking fund I’ve been contributing to over time.

This isn’t a post to boast about how much money I have or how “well” I’m doing. It’s a moment of reflection, of gratitude. I’m honoring the peace of mind I’ve been able to build—and remembering all the not-so-easy times that came before it.

Because there have been times in my life when something like this would’ve knocked me down. When an unexpected ticket or repair would’ve sparked full-blown anxiety. When my insurance bill was a stressor, not a given. When I didn’t have a car—or the means to keep one running.

So, this week I have been sitting with and experiencing a lot of gratitude for the small (and less small) ways that my relatively stable financial situation has made things easier this week. 

Here are a few other ways money made my life a little easier this week:

• Grocery shopping. I was able to do my usual beginning-of-the-month haul, loading up for the weeks ahead because I had the funds up front and a car to carry everything home.
  
• Spoiling myself (a little) while sick. I had a mild cold earlier this week, and being able to pick up an overpriced wellness shot and green juice felt like self-care, not recklessness. It helped me bounce back and show up for a busy week, both hydrated and functional.
  
• Filling up my gas tank without a second thought. I didn’t need to check my account balance or weigh it against other priorities. The cash was there, budgeted for. That’s a privilege.
  
• Topping off my laundry card. Just another small expense that didn’t cause a ripple of stress—but it easily could have, not so long ago.
  
• Feeling a little more grounded in a time of uncertainty. In a week full of uneasy headlines about budget cuts and funding cliffs, having a little financial stability brought comfort. It gives me a tiny bit of control in an unpredictable world.

Money isn’t everything. I truly believe that. It isn’t even one of my top values or priorities. It can’t buy happiness, or health, or time. But in a society that does value it, it does make a difference. It can buy peace of mind. It can ease anxiety. It can create room to breathe, to rest, to think clearly. And that’s no small thing.

So today, I’m sitting in gratitude. For where I’ve been. For where I am. For the ways my past self set me up to experience ease in a life that is still, always, hard.

I hope this week you have all the resources you need to navigate the challenges of life with a bit more ease and peace. 

As always, thank you for having coffee with me. 

Until next week, take care and be well,
Everett