Colorado Christmas

It’s early in the morning on Christmas Eve as I write to you from the Rocky Mountains, my boyhood home where I return every year to spend the holidays with family and some old friends. Here’s how Colorado greeted me on this special morning:

Rocky Mountains' Mt. Meeker on Christmas Eve morning 2010
Rocky Mountain morning moon on Christmas Eve 2010
Rocky Mountain morning frost on Christmas Eve 2010

I notice every year at this time that few people discuss the stock market while baking or shopping or wrapping or sipping hot drinks around the tree. The holidays showcase what’s really on people’s minds, and among my people it’s not Wall Street.

The people around me professionally, especially the investment media, present the winding line of the market as if it’s the whole reason this planet formed nigh on five billion years ago. Within that perspective, the subjects of stress and “these crazy times” come up a lot. One way of minimizing the stress is to keep the market at its proper proportion in our lives. It’s a method of growing capital and receiving income to achieve goals that will improve our lives with the people we love. It’s not the only way, either, and usually not the best. A well-run business in the right sector will produce more profit for most people than will trading the whims of the market or claiming a small stream of dividends from corporations.

I like stocks as a jewel in the crown of a wealthy life, but what a lonely crown it would be if they were the only jewel. Christmas is a good annual reminder of that for me, and I hope for you, too. When I hold my niece and play with my nephews, when I snap shots of people opening the presents I chose, and when I see the anticipation in the eyes of people watching me open something they chose carefully for me, my thoughts will move past the jewel of stocks for a while and settle peacefully among the jewels of people who by some wonderful stroke of cosmic luck ended up alive during my lifetime.

With that, I wish you a merry Christmas!

Yours truly,
Jason Kelly

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11 Comments

  1. Chris - Denver CO
    Posted December 30, 2010 at 12:38 am | Permalink

    Happy non-religious Christmas and a happy New Years from my family and I in Denver, CO.

    • Bill
      Posted January 10, 2011 at 10:33 pm | Permalink

      my family and me

  2. Posted December 28, 2010 at 4:56 am | Permalink

    Thanks for this, Jason–a poignant reminder of what’s truly important in life. Money is an enhancement, and a means–not the end. I appreciate how this meme subtly runs through FSP and some of your postings, as well–and that’s part of what drives me to keep passing your book around to as many people as I can. =)

    Happy holidays from beautiful Boulder!

  3. Zack
    Posted December 27, 2010 at 2:29 am | Permalink

    Thank you Jason for the warm holiday sentiments and the beautiful pictures. I was a bit envious of your view until today when it snowed more that it has in many years where I live in NC. We have been blessed with a Wonderful White Christmas! Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!

  4. Missy Steinbock
    Posted December 26, 2010 at 9:39 am | Permalink

    Thanks for the pics! I grew up in Allenspark Colorado. Your photo looks like it was taken near Mt. Meeker, is that correct?? I used to wait for my school bus in the morning and watch that mountain turn red as the sun rose in the morning (across from Wild Basin).

  5. J. Hampton
    Posted December 25, 2010 at 6:11 am | Permalink

    Right on, Jason. Thanks for a little bit of sanity to remind us all of what’s truly important. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.

  6. Dylan Parker
    Posted December 25, 2010 at 5:47 am | Permalink

    Thanks for the nice thoughts and the lovely photos. Enjoy your holidays and I look forward to your insights in the coming year.

    Merry Christmas from Victoria BC Canada.

  7. Posted December 25, 2010 at 4:03 am | Permalink

    Very nice thoughts, Jason. A very happy Christmas to you & your entire Colorado family from us!!

  8. Ayelet
    Posted December 25, 2010 at 1:56 am | Permalink

    How true. Thank you for the great pictures and kind words. Wishing you and you readers a very merry Christmas from sunny Tel-Aviv.

  9. Scott L.
    Posted December 25, 2010 at 1:43 am | Permalink

    Thanks for the great pics Jason, the Rocky Mountains are truly a treasure! Rocky Mountain National Park in CO is one of my favorite places to relax and commune with God. Enjoy your visit home – Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!

  10. Don
    Posted December 25, 2010 at 12:53 am | Permalink

    Thanks Jason. Christmas wishes from northern Canada go to you and all your readers.

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