Invested

Life is a complicated thing. Events happen that make us want to question the paths we've chosen. Did I invest in the right portfolio? It took such a major hit today. I didn't think this could ever happen, it was so stable and seemed so reliable. This investment supported me while I recovered from major financial damage at the hands of another money manager. It sheltered me while I ran amok in the investment world looking for something that felt safe. It helped me grow financially, exponentially, when all that made sense is that I should founder.
And today I found out that someone made a big mistake that may cause a lot of investors to lose their confidence in what was built. A mistake that affected a lot of people and may cause a load of financial damage to those who relied on it.

 I  don't claim to know the reasons why the decision was made, or how to fix it. But I do know this: I'm not withdrawing what I have invested in this portfolio or this money manager. My first impulse was to run, to say "it's happening again.. Everything I've put into this is falling down around me, just like before", and even to have the thought cross my mind that the stock market itself is faulty, that I should never have considered placing my future in its hands, even in part. My first impulse was to take my money and run. Far away.
But that thought quickly went away. I've grown so much, working with this money manager, you see. You don't just give up on what you've worked for because you get thrown for a loop. You don't give up on the remaining team of investors when they will need support more than ever. You have to stick it out for the long haul in order to see the proper turnaround. Your investment won't grow unless you continue to invest something in it.

I felt a lot of emotions today. Sadness, primarily, mixed with a threatening-to-boil cauldron of anger, fear, and betrayal that fought to overtake me and convince me of how very wronged I've been. But that was overcome quickly when I chose to remember everything good that I've received under the care of this money manager, and honestly, when I chose to control my emotions. Is this the way I want it to be? Negative, hurtful? No, it's not. So I choose to think otherwise. The negative emotions were quickly replaced with a heart feeling very much broken for the manager and the family around him who must also be feeling the sting of this very public mistake.

The thing is, I know the guy who runs this whole investment house. He's been doing this business for a very long time and he's seen a lot of money managers make a lot of mistakes. He knows how to fix the damage that's been done and turn what seems like a loss into a gain. He has this knack for making something beautiful out of something ugly. I'm actually kinda interested to see what may blossom out of this steaming pile of... Mistakes.

The benefit of what I've received in this time of investment has far, far exceeded any loss I may have taken from this mistake. I wouldn't trade anything I've gained just to avoid this troublesome moment in my life.

It really all comes down to this -
God is still good, and I will be grateful.