“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi

For me, November is a time of refection and change. This may be a holdover from more agrarian times where farmers had to store the harvest to make it through the winter. Living in seasonal Northeast Pennsylvania, I prepare for winter by taking stock of my life and drawing inward to prepare myself and bolster my spirit for the colder months.

I have often heard the quote from Mahatma Gandhi, and while we are able to make many changes in ourselves regarding our purpose in life and our relationships, I have always felt limited to make changes regarding finances and the concept of wealth. Our society emphasizes wealth building and having enough money for a future filled with potentially high medical costs for ourselves and our loved ones, as well as end-of-life care costs that can may seem overwhelming. These future scenarios can add a great deal of stress to our current existence if not understood and managed.

True wealth is a state of mind. It starts with gratitude for what others have given for us and what we already have. Thanks giving can be considered a verb, rather than just a day on the calendar. The abundance mentality continues by being mindful of what really makes us feel good in this moment and places more emphasis on self-care and maintaining balance between our work, our relationships, our diet, our personal attitude and our physical fitness. Science is proving every day that chronic disease is largely preventable. We are truly wealthy when we feel good. It’s obvious to me that investing in our health now will pay huge dividends in the future.

To be more aligned with my principles and more secure in my financial future, I am very pleased that many more financial options are now available locally. I do all of my banking at credit unions because the money and decisions stay local. I plan to make the vast majority of my holiday gift purchases from local businesses to keep more money in my community. I am also exploring sustainable investments as a way to grow my savings in a way that aligns better with my beliefs.

Take some time on a still day in November to reflect upon your own wealth. Be that change the Gandhi advises, and the world will be one step closer to the world you envision.