As a whole bunch of merry Marylanders flocked to the streets of downtown Baltimore to have fun the vacations, almost a dozen of The Oxford Membership’s high decision-makers gathered close by for what promised to be a tense late-night assembly.
Lengthy earlier than any of us arrived, we knew this pivotal occasion would take a look at our resolve – and that we might belief nobody.
One after the other, we filed into the room and took our seats across the lengthy mahogany desk. And when everybody was accounted for… we started.
After greater than an hour of contentious negotiations, somebody abruptly slapped a slip of paper onto the desk. Instantly, I sprang up out of my chair, banged my fist on the desk and exclaimed…
“A 7 of spades! I’ve bought a full home! I win!”
A Somber Reminder
Sadly, I didn’t go on to win our extremely anticipated Oxford Membership poker recreation. (I went all-in and misplaced all my chips a couple of arms later.)
However that poker recreation continues to be the spotlight of certainly one of my favourite weeks of 2023.
You see, in contrast to most of my colleagues right here on the Membership, I don’t reside within the Baltimore space. I dwell in Virginia Seaside, Virginia, which implies I’m over 4 hours and 240 miles away from the folks I work and speak with day-after-day.
Certain, working from house has its perks. However everyone knows sending off a fast e-mail simply isn’t the identical as strolling down the corridor, popping into your co-worker’s workplace and putting up a dialog.
These days, it feels prefer it’s more durable than ever to make real connections with folks.
I noticed this chart the opposite day on “The Platform Previously Generally known as Twitter,” and it stopped me useless in my tracks. It’s a somber reminder of the lonely actuality many Individuals face as we age…
In keeping with that information, the common individual my age spends round 4 1/2 hours alone day-after-day. However for me as a distant employee, it’s usually near twice that quantity.
That’s why I’ve discovered to cherish the few weeks I spend in Baltimore yearly – particularly the week of our annual vacation get together, which is without doubt one of the solely instances that each one of us are capable of be collectively.
Whereas I used to be on the town firstly of final month, I shared a meal with Marc and Rachel, I caught up with Jenna (the all-star copy editor behind Rich Retirement) and met her fiancé for the primary time, and I loved s’mores and doughnuts with Kailyn, the video-editing mastermind behind Marc’s State of the Market YouTube sequence.
Because the week drew to a detailed, I used to be filled with gratitude to be part of this Membership and to have the ability to work with so many wonderful folks.
My Problem to You
Right here’s my lasting takeaway from this vacation season: The recollections we create with the folks round us could make up for all the opposite junk that goes on in our lives.
And with that in thoughts, I’ve a easy problem for you as we flip the web page to a brand new 12 months.
Take the leap.
No matter “the leap” means to you… whether or not it’s becoming a member of a fitness center, selecting up a brand new pastime or discovering an excuse to get out of the home… I encourage you to dive headfirst into making recollections with the folks you care about.
After all, I’d like it for those who’d allow The Oxford Club to be a part of that leap. Our No. 1 precedence in 2024 is fostering a deeper sense of neighborhood amongst our Members, and I feel you’ll actually admire a number of the issues we’ve within the works.
However regardless of whether or not you’re a brand-new Rich Retirement reader or a longtime Oxford Membership Member, I need you to know that we’re in your nook cheering you on.
We’re actually grateful that you simply’ve allowed us to play a job in your wealth-building journey. No matter could are available in 2024 and past, right here’s to taking part in our playing cards proper… collectively.
The publish The best way to Combat America’s Loneliness Epidemic appeared first on Rich Retirement.