I’ve been talking lately to some of my friends and family about money.

Money is not everything to me – it’s not my primary reason for existing nor do I think about it non-stop.  BUT, I’d be naïve to suggest that is not important.  Money, Cash, Moolha, Wam Pahm,  and Dead Presidents are a tremendous reason our civilization has evolved over the last 2000 to (some say) 10,000 years and a driving factor to the last 100 years of unprecedented change in our planet in the last 4-5 generations.

It’s needed, necessary and more of it, if used correctly can add positivity to your life.

But the value of it is an interesting aspect.   I’ve noticed and I’d assume it’s this way for most of us that the times I feel stressed in regards to money is when I am not sure I have enough.  Maybe I had just spent $50 on something in passing and now could really use that $50 for something better.  This value is a big talk with my young children.     I’ve actually tried to keep the whole idea of the value of money from my kids as long as possible.  They have their whole life to fret and stress about money and as a kid, to me, it’s more about getting out there and embracing life.    As they age, now we have to talk about value however – A Playstation game just isn’t the same as a can of Dr. Pepper.

I’m not rich by any means but not on the poverty line either.   I’ve heard a good judge of significance of value is,  “how much would you wager on a bet and care”  and still for me, $50 would be a legit bet.

You get it, because you have these issues as well.  We all do from time to time.

This conundrum leads me to the title of this post and specifically how an episode of Seinfeld has really changed my day-to-day relationship with money.

In this episode, Jerry was explaining to his friends how money is cyclic and to stop worrying over the small things.   It all works its way around.  To prove the point he threw a $20 bill out of his window and proceeded to find an additional $20’s, or have someone buy his lunch ($20 value), or find something worth the $20 value, all show long, regardless of how hard he tried to lose it.

I think this happens in reality.

In fact, It’s become one of my “Pillars of Life” you could say.

I just don’t sweat money all the time anymore.  I don’t regret spending for small items. 

I occasionally enjoy a splurge now and then because it makes me feel good.  I don’t beat myself up for losing a little or buying something sporadically for my kids and without the stress I feel better.   We all need less stress.  In fact maybe instead of calling it the Seinfeld theory of money, I’ll just consider it a “less stress tax” and move on.

Now, this isn’t advice – this site isn’t “dear Abby” so you don’t need to take my words and ideas at all.   In fact, by all means, DO NOT TAKE MY ADVICE – the real spirit of this post is not the money but more, “don’t sweat it, it’ll all come around.”   DON’T TAKE MY ADVICE – but think about it a little bit – just think…

I’m not going to waste my energy feeling guilty because I bought an overpriced latte at the Airport or spend $10 on a shaky Hula girl while on vacation in Hawaii.   I often tell my kids – It’s not the money that’s important,  it’s what the money can bring you.  Most importantly, I’m not talking about a direct exchange of cash for items either. 

You’ll hear me say this 100 times in my posts – THE GREATEST THINGS IN LIFE ARENT ACTUALLY THINGS AT ALL.    

I live for experiences and let’s face it – experiences sometimes have a monetary cost to them – money well spent and assuredly, the money will return!

It’s the way of the World, Seinfeld was right – and the cyclic movement of money has become a law in my life.

Oh, guys, I have a lot of them –Pillars of Life, Laws of Action, Theories of the Universe… little wisdom pearls of life that are mostly subconscious but help me on decisions made in the pathway of life.

Anyway, pay attention to your money and put the Seinfeld hypothesis to work.  Especially the “pay it forward” phenomenon at restaurants and coffee shops see it works! (also 90’s TV/Movies)

 

Oh! – One more before you leave – I have another 90’s TV advice nugget for you.   Especially if you are a man!

Back in the ’90s, Andrew Dice Clay hosted Saturday Night Live.   Because of his use of extremely outrageous profanity, the bosses in charge decided to use a ten-second delay.  A Saturday Night Live CENSOR button.   It didn’t beep but just made the curse words silent for a second.  

A TEN-SECOND DELAY?!

Now think about how incredibly beneficial, in life, an internal brain-activated ten-second delay would be!

I open my mouth, say something on the top of my head and immediately regret it.  Or I should have re-phrased it or I should just shut the hell up!

Honestly,  

“People would really think I was smart if not for the incredibly stupid things that come out of my mouth from time to time.”  -CP