What To Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving?

2022 has been such a calamitous year! You’re probably, like me, struggling to find something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

What A Year!

The spike in fuel and energy prices last year spiralled into 2022. This was followed by an unexpected and nasty war between Russia and Ukraine that has caused hundreds of thousands in casualties. Then came the crash of major stock exchanges wiping out billions in wealth. And inflation has reared its ugly head, no doubt nudged by consecutive rate hikes by the US Feds. Food prices have risen more than 150% in May 2022 compared to base period 2014-2016.

Following hot on the heels of the Fed, banks started bumping up interest rates – payback time! The recent implosion of crypto exchange FTX causes ripples through the entire crypto market that was already reeling from 1 of the biggest fall from its peak. Adding fuel to fire, a wave of high profile retrenchment is leaving thousands of employees jobless at a time of high uncertainty. Important reminder for a winsome motto in life and the peril of saving the best for last. Is there anything I can be thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Let’s see…

Life

The war certainly highlighted the fragility of everyday life, how it can shatter without warning. On 23 February, the eve of Russian’s ‘special operation’ in Ukraine, life was normal for most Ukrainians – going home from work, school, grocery shopping, workout at the gym. Then kah-boom, within moments, life as one knows it has crumbled.

Everything comes to an end, sometimes from our own decision but at times totally beyond our control or understanding. I’m grateful to be healthy and able to live the life I choose, surrounded by people I love and who love me in return, having friends visit from all over, being able to have regular video calls with my parents halfway across the globe. So mundane…yet so precious. We must not allow our greatest gift to be wasted.

Travel

Now that most countries are rolling out red carpets and welcoming visitors after 2 years of  travel restriction and border closures, I feel lucky to be able to explore new sights, visit family and friends, meet new people, savour local cuisine and satiate my wander lust once again. 

Before the pandemic, travel was very much taken for granted. It was a matter of booking tickets, hotels, packing a luggage and off we jetted, whenever and wherever it tickles our fancy. 

But this freedom can be so fragile as the pandemic has shown. So our travel agenda is now filled to the brim with different port of calls the next couple of years. My absolute joy for which I am so thankful for this year, is to be able to see and hug my parents, and to spend time with them when I was back in Singapore mid-year. Simple but priceless!

Weather

The weather has been nothing short of amazing this year, at least in the Northern Hemisphere where I live. Netherlands is still having crisp sunny days deep into autumn with mild temperatures normally not associated with this time year. Global warming, I hear you say, and likely true. 

So before the effects of climate change gets worse, I’m enjoying it while it lasts. Had I not known any better, I could have sworn Vivaldi time-travelled to 2022 to draw inspiration for his famous violin concertos The Four Seasons which, coincidentally, were published here in Amsterdam in 1725.

Learning

Since the pandemic, there has been an avalanche of online courses and webinars. Which means…learning galore!! I can sign up and learn whatever topics I’m interested in, presented from all over the world, including by reputable institutions and renowned universities. Here’s an example.

With a Wifi connection, a laptop and a coffee in hand, I can kick-up my legs on the sofa or sit in front of my laptop and get educated. There are so many pluses about online courses and webinars. 

• Affordability. Some can be had for free though usually these come with an up-sell for a paid course. Fair enough, there is no free lunch right? At least I get a taste of the content and can decide if I’d like to pay for more in-depth knowledge. Webinars a great way to get introduced to new topics.

• Updated content compared to traditional courses conducted on-premise. This is especially useful for investment courses, a category I’m especially interested in, as market development such as US Fed rate hikes or impact of oil price movements are incorporated hot off the press for more relevance and sometimes even opportunistic trades. 

• Home learning and at my own pace for the recorded modules. I can take screen shots or play the recording again as revision or when missed out it totally due to helping my other half search for his misplaced keys, spectacles, wallets, handphones, fill-in-the-blank (rolling my eyes).

Surprises

I love surprises! This year I’m thankful for 3 surprises…well, at least 2 for sure. First, 2 good friends took me out for a surprise birthday dinner which fell in the period of my visit to Singapore, with special cocktails thrown in. Superlicious, what great fun! 

Second, as inflation started stirring from its decade-long hibernation mid last year, I mused about what to invest in to keep the value of money when a friend cheekily suggested this:

Translation: “Invest in alcohol, for higher percentage is not easy to find.”

My husband is an ardent whisky fan and I do enjoy a smoky glass every once in a while, so we decided to invest in 10 bottles of single malt Scotch whisky. Now, we’re not in the league of investment grade 6-figure rare bottles, just reasonably aged versions that we like and can afford. We figured even if we cannot sell at a profit, at least we can enjoy ourselves.

Guess what? The prices on the market are up by approximately 10%! Quite stellar considering that major stock markets have plummeted by 20% and cryptocurrencies have done into a deep black hole since the start of the year. Hurray for beginner’s luck:)

And my 3rd surprise is a shiny convertible that, in the words of my husband, is capable of ‘driving at 230 km/h, consuming only 6.5litre/100 kilometres on the highway, has a mechanical compressor, comes with 17-inch rim, a maximum torque of 240 Nm/3500 rpm, multipoint injection and a turning axis of 10.8m’.

No idea what all the fuss is about but I was touched by the love in his eyes as he handed me the keys. Much as I enjoy zipping around in it, I have only managed to drive it thrice while he practically lives in it 🙂

The point is: even in times of despair and pessimism, one can always find something to be thankful and grateful for.

Happy thanksgiving! 

Savvy Maverick

(Main image: Kiy Turk, Unsplash)

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are drawn from my own experiences and do not constitute financial advice in any way whatsoever. Nothing published here constitutes an investment recommendation, nor should any data or content be relied upon for any investment activities. It is strongly recommended that independent and thorough research be undertaken before making any financial decisions, including consulting a qualified professional.