Mila, our family dog, passed away six months ago. It came soon after I last wrote about her. I thought I would share this news sooner, but Mila’s passing has been more difficult than I imagined.
I was in the first grade when my friend’s dog bit me on the leg. I had a fear of dogs for a very long time, and it would be fair to say that I was not a dog person.
I am grateful to share that as time heals all wounds, it also helps diminish fears. When I met Erica, her dating profile didn’t quite say “Must Love Dogs,” but it might as well have. She loved Mila so much that had I not, it would certainly have been a dealbreaker.
While there was never any doubt who Mila loved the most, she loved all of us through every season. Mila rarely barked, never stole food from the table, loved others easily, and was very protective of those she loved.
If you had asked me before I met Erica if I thought saying goodbye to a dog would be difficult, I don’t think I would’ve answered yes. Even though Mila had been sick for quite some time, it was painful to see her pass. And she was part of my life for five years. There were lots of walks, an equal amount of poop picked up, nights when she and the kids all shared the bed. Mila was part of our family.
Though it hurt to say goodbye, and we still miss her companionship, Mila changed my feelings about dogs. I know that I am better for having met Mila, and our family was fuller with her in it.
We can all benefit by taking risks occasionally. To get there we have to be open to changing an attitude, breaking a habit, or upending a belief that we can’t do something when we can. Having a dog after my friend’s dog bit me didn’t come naturally to me, and saving for a rainy day doesn’t come naturally to a lot of people.
Managing money can cause fear and anxiety for people. Surprisingly, when we plan and prepare for big events (like our children’s college or our retirement) we can find relief and even joy. Sure, it’s not the same joy a dog like Mila brought to our family, but in both cases our lives are better.
If you don’t know where to start, we have created the Financial Wellness Hub. This is a one stop shop for the fearful and fearless. There are resources for every age, and in nearly every case, taking the first step might be the hardest, but the return on the investment of your time pays off in knowledge, confidence, and hopefully interest earnings!
At a time when all our expenses are more expensive, saving for a rainy day can seem out of reach. We want every day to be better than yesterday. That’s what we aim to do through all of our programs, including these:
- If your child was born after January 1, 2023, we have First Steps seed money for their 529 account.
- If it seems like everyone else’s employer offers retirement benefits, don’t fret. We have My Illinois Savings to get you started.
- When fear of losing disability benefits prevents you from opening an ABLE savings account, we can help.
Financial security should feel possible for more people. Our programs not only make it easier, but more financially beneficial.
Overcoming a fear, to take a risk, is scary. I’m glad that Erica didn’t have “Must Love Dogs” in her profile, because I might have second guessed myself. Having Mila as part of our family was priceless. Same as the confidence we feel, when we know we have a little bit of money for whatever storm we face.