Tuesday Thoughts | 8 October 2024 | Without Adult Supervision

My personal budgeting system was described as causing heart palpitations in a comment on the August 27, 2024 edition of this newsletter entitled Because I Can . As I reminded readers, managing your money isn’t about obsessing over every penny, its about having the confidence to spend on the stuff that matters.

There was a time in my life when I spent WAY.TOO.MUCH money, not just because strictly speaking I couldn’t really afford to do so, but also because, I didn’t really need many of the things I was buying; in fact its entirely possible I wasn’t truly buying things, but instead buying the feeling of being a person who had an abundance.

If you’ve known me for any amount of time, even just through the pages of this newsletter, you’ll know I’m a big fan of The West Wing, and Trader Joe’s (also Farm Boy, but I don’t have to cross an international border to visit); I used to have quite the Hello Kitty obsession as well, but I did eventually grow out of that (some time in my 30s if we’re being honest).

A few months ago I found myself with a spare couple of hours in Chicago, and walked directly to the closest Trader Joe’s; I’ve successfully converted my colleague, friend and mentor Catherine Cummings, CAE to the Chili Lime Seasoning fan club, and the jury is still out on the jar of Cookie Butter I gave to Rebecca Harris, M.A., CAE on Friday (I figured I could part with one of the SIX jars I picked up earlier last week).

Those loyal readers who previously followed my now defunct lifestyle blog The Lighter Life, will know that my love of Trader Joe’s knows know bounds, in fact my first return to the Lower 48 following the ‘great disruption’ took me directly to the closet location on Niagara Falls Blvd . It was to this same store that I ‘visited’ last Tuesday.

This time I enlisted the one person you know is always up for an adventure, and down to be my partner in crime for whatever crazy thing we’ve dreamed up: although now with the caveat that we be back in time for pre-school pick-up. If you guessed Kayley Corupe, CMP , you’d 100% be correct.

Off we set, two girls armed with Starbucks coffees and our passports, in my (admittedly a bit extra baby blue and white) SUV – the type of vehicle in this case is mildly relevant. I failed to charm the US Border Guard who somewhat sternly returned said passports to us, which should have been the sign of things to come.

The first sign that Adult Money, without Adult Supervision, might have been going a bit off the rails was when we couldn’t fit both sets of our groceries in the trunk and had to start piling bags onto the back seats. And then… we decided just to take a “quick walk” through the Target next door.

There is a great line in West Wing episode Celestial Navigation, that I think nicely mirrors Tuesday’s experience, from the character Josh Lyman “If only we’d stopped it right there. If only we’d said, uh, “Sorry, The President can’t take any questions right now,” or, uh, “We’ll cover this in a briefing,” or, “The building is on fire!” But for some reason, it took us all a moment to realize that there was no Press Secretary in the room.”

Now, I want to be very clear – which is why, I reminded you dear reader, of my mindful budgeting process up front – that despite perhaps egging each other on just a bit, everything that was purchased will be used, has a purpose, and isn’t going to keep anyone from paying their bills this month.

With groceries, and more than a few Target finds in tow, we headed back to the Canadian border, where we encountered a Canadian Customs agent who was even less taken by my charming and friendly nature; although he did crack a smile while telling me how to get to the office to pay duty on our purchases.

Never in my life my friends have I ever had to pay duty, including when after being in Jamaica for just 50 hours I sauntered up to the counter at YYZ with four bottles of overproof rum to declare.

But you know what? Given the same day to live over again, I might even have picked up a couple of extra things. Sometimes its ok to be a responsible adult, who also lets themselves live in the moment.

It’s a funny thing, just a couple of weeks ago I was on the campus of my Alma Mater, and I had the chance to have a brief chat with a fourth year student who is months from graduation; who having now paid most of the tuition (at least for undergrad) that they are ever going to have to pay told me they’ve started to be a bit more free with their money.

My initial instinct, which I stand by, was to caution them not to go too crazy early in their career, when tuition will soon be replaced by all manner of other expenses, and (let’s be honest) probably a fair bit of post grad lifestyle-creep.

Sometimes we have to grow up a bit, in order to get the chance to act like a kid again.

This week’s call to action is to find the moments to live with childlike wonder and a dose of reckless abandon, you’ve earned it.

New and Noteworthy is a collection of things readers of #TuesdayThoughts might find interesting, important, or informative;

??Other Stuff I Did This Week (shameless self promotion): Right as this issue goes live, I am sitting in the Council Chamber at the Markham Civic Centre, watching as (hopefully) General Committee endorses the draft Terms of Reference for the Race Relations Committee - of which I am the chair for, and for which my appointment is expiring soon.

???Hold These Dates: January 19, 2025 - Launch Event for the final book in the Tuesday Thoughts Companion Trilogy (Unionville, ON) - RSVP Today | January 20, 2025 - Official Launch Day for The Tuesday Thoughts Companion: A Year of Small Actions for Big Impact: Volume 3 | I'm looking for a handful of Speaking and Consulting Engagements through late 2024 and into 2025 to continue to make an impact. Details of my offerings are on my website daniellerussell.ca .

?? What to Read: this powerful exchange between Tami Adams - Founder, Speaker Strategist, Agent, Speaker Coach and the newest member of the TA Speakers Management team - Stephanie Hiltz | For Many Black women, fear of failure takes a heavy toll on mental health in the Globe and Mail h/t Maggie John

? What to Do: Vote for Toronto-based Pine River Institute to win a much needed vehicle h/t Maryann Kerr, MA Leadership

?? What to Watch: Janine Manning speaking to CharityVillage about Reconciliation in the Nonprofit Sector | This TED Talk from my cousin D'Ari and his wife Mel the founders of Darkspark h/t Sonia Gallimore

????♀?Cool Jobs (Paid and Volunteer): Multiple Roles @ Association and Events Management International h/t Michael Dargavel, CEM

?? Take Note: The Ignite Sweet 16 Issue has dropped (I got mine in the mail last week) includes stickers! Congratulations to Debbie van der Beek and the entire Ignite Magazine team | October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month h/t Spinal Cord Injury Ontario

CALL FOR CONTENT: I crowd source 99% of what appears in New and Noteworthy, but I would love the help of the Tuesday Thoughts Community to identify content about you and for you. Got a cool new project? A Job Posting to Fill? Or just something you found interesting? DM me with a link.

I am a Certified Association Executive with over a dozen years of experience in leadership positions across Canada’s Not-for-Profit Sector, with deep ties in the Meetings and Events Industry. I use the art of storytelling in speech and writing to explain ideas, and to inform audiences and readers on a variety of topics. Learn more about how we can collaborate;

?? Consulting Services: I offer a suite of consulting services for Associations and Charities, and am interested in working with likeminded organizations on projects that contribute to better governance, leadership and the overall growth and health of Canada’s Association and Not-for-Profit Industries.

??? Speaker/Facilitator: I have spoken to standing room only crowds in the Association and Events sectors, connecting ideas and people; topics include, The Introvert Experience, Imposter Syndrome and Mentorship, EDI: Lived Experience as a BIPOC Woman in Leadership, Minimalism and Essentialism, Finding Your Voice and Building Your Unique Brand, Making and Impact, and the #TuesdayThoughtsFormula. NEW: Speaker Onesheet (ratesheet available on request)

??? Contributing Writer: I have written for Industry Publications and Blogs with a focus on the role of Associations, Volunteerism, and the Intersection of Not-for-Profit Management and many current social and economic trends. My inclination towards storytelling lends itself well to the style of Creative Non-Fiction.

?? The Tuesday Thoughts Formula: I am on a mission to inspire actions that amplify my impact, each week I follow the #TuesdayThoughtsForumla to deliver a call to action inspired by relevant stories; new this year, I’m bringing live demonstrations of the formula to the stage to help conference, event and meeting attendees tell their own stories that amplify their ROI of in-person attendance.

?? Check out my website daniellerussell.ca or email me: [email protected]

?? I’m on a Mission to?Change The World, By Inspiring Actions That Amplify My Impact! Despite my Introverted tendencies, if I have any hope of success this cannot be a solo affair. Join my community where I Connect People and Ideas;

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