The Daily Meaning

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“Your daily blog posts have become a great part of my morning routine, waking up and reading your posts challenge me to reflect on something that matters in my life or view something from a different perspective.”
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Travis Shelton 7/18/24 Travis Shelton 7/18/24

I Won't Be Stealing His Blessing

As he divided up the money into three components (spending, saving, and giving), he turned to me and said, "Dad, I'm going to use my giving money to buy you a new battery so you can fix your watch." I've been wearing a broken watch for a few months now. I have other watches, but this one is my favorite. Unfortunately, though, the battery died. So, at this point, it's for aesthetics only.

Travis Shelton 7/17/24 Travis Shelton 7/17/24

Remorse is Setting In

As they each opened their wallets to deposit their spending cash, they were welcomed to an empty cavern where money used to live. They were immediately upset at the idea of having no spending money (except for the cash they just earned). Sarah reminded them that they spent all their money on the 4th of July. I could see disappointment and buyer's remorse take over their expressions.

Travis Shelton 7/16/24 Travis Shelton 7/16/24

Who and Why

In our respective occupations, the moment we truly understand the who and the why is the moment we discover the special combo of finding meaning in our work and creating impact on the world.

Travis Shelton 7/15/24 Travis Shelton 7/15/24

The Blink of An Eye, Indeed

When I published a piece titled "The Blink of An Eye" a few days ago, I had no idea that idea would ring true in such a profound way just a few days later. The piece centered around the concept that life can change in the blink of an eye. I used examples such as births, deaths, job losses, marriages, sicknesses, career shifts, and divorces. Pardon my mistake of not including the attempted assassinations of a former president and a current presidential candidate.

Travis Shelton 7/14/24 Travis Shelton 7/14/24

The Scales of Meaning

Money is finite. Each month, there’s only so much of it to go around. For every dollar we spend on one thing, it’s one less dollar we can spend on another. While it’s true there are dozens of categories and thousands of transactions at play, sometimes it boils down to a few major decisions. That’s where the scale comes in. For the sake of this post, I’ll refer to them as the “Scales of Meaning.”

Travis Shelton 7/13/24 Travis Shelton 7/13/24

The Blink of An Eye

A little more than eight years ago, Sarah and I were a mid-30s couple who aspired to one day have children. Just a handful of days later, we were the parents of twin baby boys. We went from “we wish” to “oh crap” in about twelve seconds. We bought car seats, bottles, clothes, and diapers AFTER meeting them for the first time. We didn’t even have a room ready for them. Our lives forever changed in the blink of an eye.

Travis Shelton 7/12/24 Travis Shelton 7/12/24

Being Ungrateful Beings

Do you ever think about how much we take for granted? I think about this topic a lot, but never more than I have this week. Post-hurricane Houston has been a mess. I've spent most of the last three days in a 90-degree office with no electricity, no A/C, no lights, and no WiFi. Nothing. I didn't have a hotel for two days. Very few restaurants were open. People were waiting in line for hours to get gas. I sweat through my clothes for three straight days. It felt like my brain was melting onto the table.

Travis Shelton 7/11/24 Travis Shelton 7/11/24

Inflicting Impact

I spent Monday trying to get to Houston WHILE a hurricane was pummeling the city (smart move, I know). Nearly every flight was canceled that day, but United re-booked me for a later flight that actually got me there safely. As I boarded my Denver-to-Houston flight, I chatted with a young man (maybe 16 or 17) trying to get home to Houston from a mission trip. Unfortunately, he was the victim of eight flight cancellations over the prior 18 hours. He looked beat up yet oddly optimistic.

Travis Shelton 7/10/24 Travis Shelton 7/10/24

There’s Far More In You

Travis Shelton 7/9/24 Travis Shelton 7/9/24

Keeping the Relationship Pure

Relationships and generosity, two of the most meaning-filled things in life. Typically, these two dynamics run parallel to one another. After all, both are a manifestation of love and compassion. They run parallel until, well, they don’t. Once in a while, a situation arises where the two can collide.

Travis Shelton 7/8/24 Travis Shelton 7/8/24

Cultivating the Next Generation of Stewards

One of the main questions I get asked about is how to teach kids about money. Most parents don't actually teach kids about money, and the ones who do typically do so in the most toxic of ways. I don't usually say anything when I see terrible teaching play out because, well, they didn't ask for my opinion. But since I have a platform, today I'll be sharing the way I recommend teaching it. First, I'll share a few key principles that I believe are essential:

Travis Shelton 7/7/24 Travis Shelton 7/7/24

Thanks, Brook!….and AI

He simply opened his preferred AI tool and entered the prompt, "Can you write me a short blog post about taking advantage of time in the summer to find meaning; from different perspectives?" 30 seconds later, it provided him with a complete article built around his request. That's scary, isn't it? That's exciting, isn't it? That's weird, isn't it?

Travis Shelton 7/6/24 Travis Shelton 7/6/24

His Greatest Hook Shot

It was about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In case you aren't familiar with him, I'll give you the cliff notes version. Kareem is regarded as one of the best basketball players who ever lived. He was a fixture of the 1970s and 1980s NBA, primarily known for his signature sky hook. He's a 6x champion, 19x all-star, 6x MVP, and second all-time leading scorer in NBA history. It's safe to say he won a lot of hardware! For many, his face belongs on the basketball Mt. Rushmore.

Travis Shelton 7/5/24 Travis Shelton 7/5/24

Ready to Jump Back In

All that said, I'm ready to jump back into work. I have lots of good things in store next week, and I'm excited to get going. Truth is, I feel this most weeks. Even when I'm having the best weekend, I'm simultaneously looking forward to work. It's an odd and understandably counter-cultural reality.

Travis Shelton 7/4/24 Travis Shelton 7/4/24

Embracing Freedom

Within each of our own lives, we also have a different kind of freedom available to us. It's the kind of freedom that stems from healthy financial stewardship, avoidance of debt, and the refusal to pursue a materialistic life.

Travis Shelton 7/3/24 Travis Shelton 7/3/24

It’s Not About Looking Down

Giving isn't about assessing where we stand on some superficial hierarchy compared to a potential recipient of our gift. That's a cheap and shallow way to perceive giving.

Travis Shelton 7/2/24 Travis Shelton 7/2/24

The Dip Is a Myth

I have a strange hobby. Occasionally, I'll set a random reminder on my phone for the distant future. These reminders usually stem from conversations with buddies or goals with clients. It's always a fun treat to get a random, obscure reminder. Yesterday, I woke up to a memorable one: "Remind Ryan the dip is a myth." That's it. That's all it said.

Travis Shelton 7/1/24 Travis Shelton 7/1/24

Forgetting the Plot

In many ways, this is a close parallel with life. Amidst the chaos, busy, and unforeseen events, it's easy to forget the plot. We say to ourselves that x, y, and z are our primary objectives. Yet, if we were honest with ourselves, our actions may say otherwise.

Travis Shelton 6/30/24 Travis Shelton 6/30/24

The Three-Month Rule

Budgeting is simple—eventually. Budgeting is powerful—eventually. Budgeting is a game-changer—eventually. Budgeting isn't something we just pick up and are magically good at. After all, if you don't budget, there's a strong likelihood you've operated your finances without one for years....maybe decades. So we can't expect to be overnight experts.

Travis Shelton 6/29/24 Travis Shelton 6/29/24

The Tale of Two Encounters

Words are powerful. Words can build up, tear down, create impact, and cause destruction. Whoever championed the "sticks and stones" jingle must not have experienced the wrath of words. Every day, when we go about our business, we wield a weapon. We have a choice: Use it for good or for harm.

The Daily Meaning

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“Your daily blog posts have become a great part of my morning routine, waking up and reading your posts challenge me to reflect on something that matters in my life or view something from a different perspective.”

"Love starting my morning with a daily dose of positivity or perspective!"