{"data":{"id":"ec6c0687-a526-47ff-ad8c-b45a8e490573","updated_at":"2024-09-30T18:38:35Z","template_id":"73046548-86ec-431a-aca0-75b53bc936f3","localized":{"blocks":[{"id":"fe5e3279-949d-4859-ae91-ab07470f67e3","kind":"richtext","template_id":null,"content_html":"

Yesterday I watched one of my favorite movies “A Christmas Carol” the Charles Dickens classic.

It’s about the mean and miserable Ebenezer Scrooge, a money lender who constantly bullies his poor clerk, Bob Cratchit, and rejects his nephew Fred’s wishes for a merry Christmas. He has no real friends or family, and cares only about his own well-being.

Scrooge lives only for money.

As the story goes, on Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by three ghosts. They teach him about the Christmas spirit through visions of Christmases past, present and future.

In each visit, he sees either the negative consequences his miserly nature has created or the good tidings that others bring about through their love and kindness.

Scrooge also sees his future death—dying alone with no one to mourn him. He has his money and his possessions, but nothing else.

He finally understands why qualities like generosity and love are some of the most important things in life. He’s grateful when he realizes he has a chance to redeem himself and change his future.

This is the important message conveyed by Dickens.

If Scrooge can change and improve his future, then anyone can. Dickens reminds us that we still have a last chance to be remembered as we would wish.

But we need to start living that way today, while we still have the opportunity to change the direction of our life.

Why are happiness levels falling?

The most recent World Happiness report found most Canadians aren’t feeling very happy these days. The report comparing 150 countries, shows Canada dropped to the lowest point ever, plunging from fifth place a decade ago to 15th in 2024.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

As Scrooge showed us you can crank up your happiness levels simply by finding ways to help those less fortunate. You can work at a food bank, volunteer at a hospital or join Habitat For Humanity. Even calling and providing emotional support to others who are going through a difficult time brings a sense of joy.

Simply put doing good feels good and it is one of the surest ways to increase your well-being. It’s a good feeling when you can lend a hand at one of the most difficult times of a person’s life something many of us discovered during the pandemic.

Just like Scrooge, my focus these days is largely on helping others. That’s what gives me meaning now. Everything I do these days is for meaning, not money and it feels good being able to say that.

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Mike Drak is a Senior Contributor at Booming Encore and the Author of the best-selling book Victory Lap Retirement, Retirement Heaven or Hell and Longevity Lifestyle by Design. Along with being an Author, Mike is also an award winning blogger, retirement coach and public speaker and has made appearances on BNN, CBC Radio and iHeart radio. He is a thirty-eight year veteran of the financial services industry and lives with his wife Melina in Toronto, Canada.

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