Happy Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a special holiday for families and friends getting together for a traditional turkey dinner. And this year, given the challenges we are facing all over the world…having the opportunity to share and show our gratitude and love with family and friends is especially important.
Since my daughters and family share Thanksgiving with their in-laws, and I get to share Xmas holidays with them, I am very grateful that my granddaughter, Micaela and her boyfriend, flew from LA a couple of weeks early, to do sort of a Thanksgiving weekend with me and Roger. Of course, we treated them to many dinners they love and can’t usually afford and we had the opportunity (a treat for grandparents) to learn the many things they are doing and thinking about life.
Family dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab with
Mark & granddaughters, Micaela and Kendall.
Micaela and Mark enjoying Komodo Dragon at Miami Zoo
As many of you know, the Starner Group is a wonderful and cohesive high performing team. I am grateful for each and every one of them. And each is unique and special in what they do for our clients and each other. In this Thanksgiving Musing, I would like to share a little insight into Jessica Delgado’s recent achievement.
Jessica began with the Starner Group in 2015 as a Service Associate after working at Crate and Barrel as a manager. Eight years later, Jessica’s excellent performance has resulted in her becoming the Starner Group’s Practice Business Manager. Adding to her accomplishments of raising 2 kids, running her household, preparing family holiday dinners, and managing our practice, Jessica just completed the 13.1 Mile Disney Wine and Dine Half-Marathon.
My interview chat with Jessica Delgado
MCS: What inspired you to run the Marathon? Most people probably do not imagine standing in a hoard of thousands of people at 3am in 60-degree weather in running shorts as a good time.
JD: Though running is a new passion, this half marathon was combined with my life-long love of Disney World. I ran through some of my favorite places, including EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Along the way, I was offered several photo opportunities with many of the most iconic Disney characters. I know that stopping for pictures slowed my pace, but this race was not about getting my fastest time ever. It was about enjoying the experience and knowing I accomplished my goal of simply finishing something I started almost a year ago.
MCS: Wow…that wasn’t much time to prepare, given demands on your time. When did you prepare?
JD: Many hours after work and early on Saturday mornings were spent slowly building up the stamina I needed to complete the 13.1-mile marathon.
MCS: Did you run with friends?
JD: Well, I had never met any of my fellow runners, but by the end of the race, we all felt life friends! I saw so many different types of people. Young, old, large, small. It was very powerful to see that many people all doing the same thing, but for totally different reasons. Everyone was so supportive of one another. Runners would start cheering on total strangers if they saw them struggling. Several grabbed hands to try and help slower runners keep pace.
MCS: Will you do it again?
JD: Yes! I will keep training to try to improve on this year’s results. The time it takes to finish though is not as rewarding as the time I spend training. It is the time I spend working on making myself better in several different ways.
MCS: What did your family think about this endeavor?
JD: I am extremely grateful for the support of my husband, Robby, who watched the kids every time I was out on a run. He was also with me at 3am on race day with the other spectators cheering on loved ones. Although he did not walk away with a medal around his neck, he definitely earned one. Also, I love the fact that I set a good example for my kids about working towards goals and doing things to keep active and healthy. When we returned to the hotel around 10am, they greeted me with huge hugs and cheers of “We are so proud of you Mami!” That feeling was just as good as crossing the finish line.
Now more than ever, I am very grateful for the love and support of my family, work family, and friends.
MCS: Congrats Jessica for completing your marathon goal and thanks for sharing your experience. Good luck on your future runs!
In the spirit of Thanksgiving and “gratitude,” I recommend listening to a podcast by David Brooks on YouTube titled “How to Know a Person. The art of seeing others deeply and being deeply seen.” Brooks reflects on his transition to opening himself to others and the world despite his being raised “to think Yiddish and act British.” While long, its worth listening.
Our office will be closed on
Thursday November 23rd
and on
Friday November 24th at 1:00pm
Sincerely,
Margaret C. Starner
Senior VP - Financial Planning
2333 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Suite 500
Coral Gables, FL 33134
www.starnergroup.com
2020 Investment News - Lifetime Achievement in
Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion Award
Nominees for the 2020 InvestmentNews Diversity & Inclusion Lifetime Achievement Award must currently be working as financial planners, registered representatives or registered investment advisers, or as industry professionals in a role that supports financial advisers. Judges will consider management, team development, achievement and a minimum 15-year commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion. InvestmentNews received about 130 nominations for the Diversity & Inclusions awards and selected 1 individual for the Lifetime Achievement award. The ranking may not be representative of any one client's experience, is not an endorsement, and is not indicative of future performance. Neither Raymond James nor any of its Financial Advisors pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating nor is Raymond James affiliated with InvestmentNews
