​When I was a kid, one of the staples of every summer vacation was floating the river. We’d drag a canoe down to the water, filled with oars, a cooler, sunblock, a camera and water floats. We’d all pile into the canoe until we realized someone had to push us off the land and into the current. So with shouted warnings not to fall out of the boat, my brother would stand up, hop out, and give us a push. We’d then spend the next few hours floating lazily down the river, pointing out blue herons and hawks, and enjoying the sunshine. My mom would usually tie a floating mat to the back of the canoe with a rope, and my brother and I would fight over who got to float behind the group, watching the clouds sail by.

Inevitably, there would be a rainstorm on those trips. The day would be nothing but sunshine and blue skies until one of us spotted a gray cloud in the distance. We could almost guarantee that we’d have a storm that day. Putting the canoe in the water was as good as any rain dance. There’s something a little bit scary and a little bit exciting about being out on the water during a storm, even if that water is only 2 feet deep. We’d always row to the side of the river and wait it out, but I remember those storms, and the way the trees would sway in the wind. When  you’re surrounded by only nature, the world dances with a storm. There were no buildings around to defy the wind, and our canoe certainly wasn’t up to that challenge. 

I’m hoping to get the family into a canoe this year. With temperatures rising and summer storms moving in, I know I’ll have to be picky about what day I choose. A part of me is still convinced that no matter what the forecast predicts, that canoe trip will be destined for a storm. 

This past week, Britain voted to leave the European Union. For some of us, that news is scary, especially if we’re watching the stock market and wondering what this will do to your investments. For some of us it doesn’t make much of a difference at all. But what it really drives home, for me at least, is this: we can’t control everything. We can certainly budget, save, invest, and make plans. We can be very careful with our spending. We can do all of the right things when it comes to money, and we should. Making those decisions is the path to financial success. But there’s always an element that can’t be controlled. We live in an unpredictable world. On those canoe trips with my family, we’d bring everything we thought we’d need, from water, to sunscreen, to a first aid kit. But we couldn’t control the weather - we just had to roll with it. I know that I’ll probably sink our canoe before we leave land because of all of the precautionary packing I’ll bring with my little ones this summer, but there’s always the chance of storm clouds on the horizon.

So here’s my advice this week: budget, pay yourself first, and track your financial goals. Spend time with your family. Enjoy the summer. Storm clouds and stock markets can’t be controlled, but your personal success can be. I’m Claire, the Afena blog mom. Thanks for reading.