I had this post all typed up and it said it had saved, and then when I went looking for it, it was gone! I really liked the original post, but hopefully in rewriting it, I can gain new insights.

One of the prompts today on my website asked what the most expensive meal I’d ever eaten was. I do eat out more than I should, but it’s usually not super expensive meals. I don’t like spending too much on food that I can make at home for less then 1/4 the cost. But I have had 2 meals that cost about $50 per person. One my husband and I paid for, it was for an anniversary. The other was a Christmas present from my brother.

I have also been continuing on with my life coaching studies, and this thought reminded me of one of the discussions from that class. The teacher talked about setting a goal such as, “I want to be the best life coach in the world.” He talked about how unmeasurable that goal is. What determines this? Is it other’s opinions, the amount of money you make, how many people you have helped? What determines how expensive the meal you just ate was? Was it the cost of the meal, how good it tasted, the company you had?

We are only given a certain amount of time here on this earth. In the end, what will matter most? I know there have been many studies done as people are approaching the end of life. Without a doubt, the number one thing that mattered most is family, their relationships with others, and quite often for those who spent their life pursing money, it was the lack of those relationships that hurt the most.

Fulfillment in life does not come with a big bank account. Success is not necessarily measured in dollars, at least not true success. Fulfillment in life does not come by having a big bank account. It’s the relationships we develop along the way.

So, what is the most expensive meal I’ve ever eaten? Well, I come at it from two sides. One, the most expensive one is the one that I missed with family and friends because I was too busy. Expensive because it costs me in the development of my relationships. But the most fulfilling meals that I eat are when my family and friends are gathered around the table, with laughter, interesting discussion, and a whole lot of love shared over a meal.