Last night I went to see a performance by Strictly Seattle, a summer dance program that gathers Seattle dancers and choreographers for 3 weeks of intensive rehearsals that culminate in a weekend of performances. It was breath-taking. The dancers were very skilled and expressive. In one of the dances, each dancer’s lower body seemed pinned to the dance floor while the upper body performed very intricate movements without hindrance, as if it had a mind on its own. Imagine a tree where the trunk and root are planted to the soil while the leaves vibrate with each sweep of the wind. That’s what the dance felt like to me.
And I was sitting next to a young man who turns out to be one of the dancers’ boyfriend. Being somewhat of an insider, he gave me some insight about how the dancers packed all the complicated choreography into 3 weeks of rehearsals. As a greenhorn to dance performance, I was intrigued. He also works in a building half a block away from my office building. It’s a small world indeed.
Many of you who are reading my blog are in your 20’s. We are young, and we need to have fun. Someone told me a dollar spent today is worth 100 dollars spent 20 years later. I am all for wisely managing financial resources, but there are things we should spend the money on because they make our lives better. Ultimately money is just a tool to obtain happiness. There is no point in having a lot of money without being happy. I invest part of my income, and I save money on certain purchases just because I want to spend that money on something else, such as the dance performance I went to last night.
The show was very inspiring. I know I will not be a professional dancer ever, but I think that I can be successful and inspire people as well. I’ve had challenging moments in my life recently, but events like this one keep me motivated. For $20, it was well worth it in my book.
I went to bed last night feeling satisfied, and started today with an inspired spirit. Thank you, Velocity Dance Center in Seattle, for putting together such an awesome show. And thank you, my readers, for allowing me to share with you my stories and to help you along your financial journey. You make me feel appreciated and special.
Have a great weekend!
Best,
Richard (Hiep Tran)
Hiep's Finance 
You are absolutely correct! Your approach is logical and balanced. Things change as we age. An Air Force audiology instructor once said it was one of life’s paradoxes that our hearing has declined significantly by the time we have the money to afford an expensive stereo system. Unfortunately similar declines occur in physical abilities impacting activities like skiing, bicycling etc. These activities, travel and fine dining are all still enjoyable as I age, but they are different experiences than when done at a younger age. Unfortunately, I predict you are to rational and logical to have any future in politics.
“…I predict you are to…” should read “…I predict you are too…”
Thanks! That metaphor actually stuck in my head after I heard it from you since I happen to be a huge fan of music. Many times when I was considering buying something I really wanted versus saving money for the future, I asked myself: Am I going to be able to enjoy this as I get older? If the answer is no, I go ahead and spend the money! Many people live beyond their means, but the other extreme happens a lot too. It’s very possible to be too frugal. We all work hard to earn our money, and we deserve to enjoy life while it’s fun.