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Today my grandson turned 10.
This morning I had the privilege of sharing a moment with him when we met at Starbucks, not my usual Friday morning coffee spot. It seemed fitting to meet there.
He ordered some weird fruit concoction; maybe Starbucks bridges generations. I was surprised the coffee was actually ok.
We sat together. I watched his lips move, his eyes light up and too many words came at once for me to truly hear everything he said. I got most of the conversation: the Football World Cup, his new Argentinian jersey, and the fact that he doesn't have FC26 yet (birthday gift tip).
And no, I didn't arrive with a gift.
This morning I had a choice: rest, because I should be taking it easy four days after a biopsy, or get up, shower, go out and surprise my grandson.
The choice was easy.
On the second day in Nepal we visited Pashupatinath Temple, a massive sacred Hindu shrine in Kathmandu. It sits on the banks of the holy Bagmati River and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Pashupatinath is not just a place of prayer. It is Nepal's most important cremation site. Hindus believe that being cremated on these holy banks purifies the soul and helps break the cycle of rebirth.
As we stood there, funeral pyres burned in plain sight. Families gathered. Prayers were offered. Life carried on around death as though the two were old friends.
There was no hiding from mortality, no attempt to push it behind closed doors. Death was simply part of the human journey.
I came home from Nepal feeling relaxed and calm. A shift had occurred. I don't have a perfect explanation for it other than witnessing a simplicity of life, a warmth in the word "Namaste", countless smiles, and a culture that seems less afraid of life's inevitable ending.
This afternoon I attended the funeral of a client.
Old St Paul's is a beautiful structure.
Once again, I felt calm.
An open casket stood at the front of the church. It took me a while to notice it was open. I spent the next twenty minutes debating whether I wanted to see her one last time or simply preserve the memory I already carried.
I chose the latter.
Her children spoke eloquently of a mother, friend, mentor and inspirational woman. They spoke of curiosity, adventure, generosity and courage. She had continued learning, travelling and embracing life right until the end.
Listening to them, it became clear that while death marks the end of a life, it doesn't diminish the impact of a life well lived.
My role in her story had been relatively small. I was a confidant, a sounding board and a source of reassurance.
"Am I doing enough?"
"What else should I be doing?"
"Have I made the right decisions?"
"What if I...?"
These questions are common in my profession. Financial advice is rarely just about money. It is often about hopes, fears, family, health, legacy and time.
Always time.
Over the last few weeks, those questions have taken on a different meaning for me.
The biopsy I underwent may prove to be nothing significant, or it may mark the beginning of a journey I wasn't planning on taking.
If I'm honest, I thought this chapter was behind me. Cancer was something I believed I'd already faced, dealt with and moved beyond.
Yet here we go again, waiting, wondering, living in the space between knowing and not knowing.
Uncertainty has a way of sharpening your perspective. Suddenly, the future stops being a guarantee and starts becoming a gift.
This morning I celebrated ten years of life.
This afternoon I celebrated a lifetime.
And somewhere between Starbucks, Kathmandu and Old St Paul's, I realised they are connected.
My grandson's excitement about a football game he doesn't yet own. A woman remembered for a life she fully embraced. Families gathered around funeral pyres beside a sacred river. A doctor discussing biopsy results.
They all point to the same truth.
Life is not measured in years alone. It is measured in conversations we make time for, people we show up for, risks we take, places we explore, kindness we share and memories we create.
Nepal reminded me that death is not the opposite of life; it is part of life.
My grandson reminded me that joy lives in the present moment.
And my client reminded me that the goal is not simply to have more years in our life, but more life in our years.
Grateful for lives well lived.
Grateful for the uncertainty that reminds us not to postpone what matters.
This morning I watched a ten-year-old boy talk excitedly about football and video games.
This afternoon I listened to a family honour a life that was rich in adventure, curiosity and love.
Between those two moments sits all of life.
And I'm grateful that, for now, I still get to say yes to a coffee with my grandson.
Dean.
Hi everyone! My name is Dean, and I am Financial Adviser and coach. I work with people to help them to achieve their financial goals and assist them to make smarter financial decisions. Drop me a line for a chat and to work through your goals. I work with you to become financially fit and together we create a game plan for your financial future. D.
Disclaimer: Dean Blair (FSP87402) is a Financial Adviser with Velocity Financial (FSP95466). No financial decision should be taken based on the information in this blog alone. Please see our disclosure statement on our website.
Always get professional advice
The information shared in this post is meant to be general guide to support you on your journey. When making important decisions about your finances, we encourage you to seek independent financial advice first, tailored to your unique situation. As well as talking with a financial adviser, make sure you talk to your lawyer and accountant too – together they'll help you find the best solution for your specific situation. Our knowledgeable financial advisers are here to help. Check out our website for the details about our financial advisory services in our disclosures:
https://www.velocityfinancial.co.nz/disclosure-statement.