May 2025

I recently had a small procedure completed that required stitches. Nothing to be alarmed about other than finding out that I wouldn’t be able to maintain my normal workout schedule for about 2 weeks, or until the stitches are removed. Talk about a disappointment to my day!

To set the stage so you best understand, exercising is my thing. It brings me joy, releases stress, helps me feel good and good about myself, not to mention supports my lavish eating habits that I have come to enjoy. I do a workout pretty much every morning, whether it is running or walking or a circuit training/weightlifting routine. In the evenings, I often enjoy a walk or workout depending on the day and availability. I have a routine. I like my routine. When I cannot follow my routine, my mind struggles.

So, as I was sitting in the exam room, the day of this small procedure, literally, the first question out of my mouth after the doctor goes through his spiel is: “Will I be able to workout?” I don’t think he really understood the crux of this question. He said, “Sure, I mean you can walk and go about your daily life activities.” The problem is, my life activities can be quite different from others, so I clarified, “Can I go for a run and lift weights?” He negated the opportunity to run and do anything that would cause undue stress on the stitches until removed and then added, but its only for 2 weeks.

Two weeks! Seriously! That feels like a lifetime to me when it comes to not exercising. My mind immediately starts trying to figure out what I COULD do in lieu of what I couldn’t do. Finally, I succumbed to the doctor’s recommendation and realized this: Life is going to happen. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, let alone the rest of my day. While living out my routine is great, I need to learn to roll with the punches. I decided that this bump was good for me. Change can be scary, especially when we don’t know what comes next. Instead of focusing on our path that is blocked, let’s create a new one. The scenery will be different, but we will be better for it in the long run.

As we look at current stock and bond market conditions, I think we can all agree that it is not what we had planned for this year. 2025 markets started off successfully. The economy and economic news felt positive overall. Then changes happened. Changes out of our control. Changes that might keep us up at night because our plan feels thwarted. We don’t know what will happen next, but we do know this: We can make a course correction. We can make tweaks to accommodate unexpected events. Things will happen over our working and retired lifetimes that will affect our investments and savings, and we will again need to adjust. This doesn’t mean we throw the plan in the garbage. It means we will find an alternative route for now, until things become clearer, whether that is weeks from now or years from now. We have options and we are here to advise you on the best options for your circumstances and stage of life.

My doctor didn’t give me the options I wanted to hear when I asked about exercise, but he did give me the options that were in my best interest. What I did with those options was my choice. In the case of my procedure, he was the professional advising on something he does every day of his life. Listening to his recommendations is probably the most suitable course of action.

When we give you our advice, it is based on our professional guidance using our experience with something we do every day of our lives. The choice to take that advice is always up to you, but know it is given with your best interests in mind.