Writing checks has never been a happy time for me. Someone told me once that for many men, money is far more valuable than anything they could ever buy with it. Well I’m not that extreme, but a part of me winces whenever I’m writing a check and so today I thought I’d make a M2B:) attempt to change all that.
But how to approach it? Should I simply plaster a smile on my face as I’m filling in the numbers of my check register? I don’t think so, when the whole idea of a mission to be happy is finding authentic happiness. Maybe I should think about the one I’m writing the check to and consider how happy they’ll be when then get my check? I can’t picture the power company squealing with delight when my payment arrives. Perhaps seeing the bigger picture of my contribution to the global economic recovery will help? Not feeling it.
Wait, wait, I’ve got it. I’m going to pretend something that’s actually not pretend at all: That whatever I have is a gift, and whatever I give was never really mine in the first place. That works. All that’s in my checking account came by way of last year’s donations to the Michael McLean Mission To Be Happy Fund. Gifts to a songwriter to encourage him to keep on keepin’ on. And if the checks I’m writing are my thanks for services rendered, and encouraging others to keep on keepin’ on….well, maybe that’s a great trade. Maybe the joy of having ANYTHING in my account, and a chance to spread it around could make this check writing deal a M2B:) moment.
For today that what made me happy. I know, it still feels a little weird to me too, but so let it be written, so let it be done.
4 Comments
I was going to say, use plastic – it’s actually fun to run the card through the little reader – and you don’t feel the same drain of funds that you do hand writing out the numbers – a sort of mental separation. But then I got to the sting, and I thought – “Yeah. This is better. In fact this is good. Very, very good.” I just have to attach it to the plastic -
Maybe it’s just cause I’m Canadian(or b/c I don’t know how to spell…) and we tend to have different spelling of words…but i thought ‘check’ was spelled ‘cheque’
Great post though!
I don’t have a problem with this at all! Checks means money right? And as long as there are checks (or cheques) in the check book then there’s money right? I don’t see the problem here.
Ha ha! You’re so cute Michael! Way to make that an M2B:) moment!