If it wasn’t the fact that I currently have 6 finance related books checked out from two separate libraries it was those three pennies. While leaving Target a few weeks ago I spotted 3 pennies casually hanging out on a curb right in front of the store. I paused to consider how great it would be to adopt those pennies and add them to my change jar. But I didn’t stop and pick them up, I kept on walking. I kept on walking because I didn’t want anyone to see me stop and pick up 3 pennies. I felt ashamed. I think that probably says a lot about me but also about the cultural climate in which I have enveloped myself within. I know three pennies aren’t much but I realized that I have finally made that connection that the small actions can greatly affect the big picture.
My relationship with money has always just looked at what was right in front of me and not looked at the overall picture and the financial damage that I was creating. A purchase of a cup of coffee here, a stop at Panera Bread for lunch there. It sounds so obvious but really making that mental shift into analyzing every purchase, how quickly things add up, and just changing my overall mind set has been so beneficial for me.
A few days after the three penny incident I was out for a walk with my dog and spotted another lonely penny. I again considered leaving it but quickly thought about those three pennies I had left just a few days prior. So I scooped up the penny and happily trekked home to add it to my change jar collection. Baby steps…