Jonathan Clements & the parable of the bathroom reno
A personal finance writer's example of facing death with eyes wide open
Jonathan Clements is dying.
Five months ago, he was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. It's incurable, but he’s currently pursuing treatment to extend his life as long as possible. Barring a miracle, Jonathan is on borrowed time, and he knows it.
Jonathan has always been a prolific writer. In his 62 years, he has written over a thousand articles for the Wall Street Journal, ten books, and scores of posts on his online personal finance education community, Humble Dollar.
Jonathan hasn't missed a beat since his diagnosis. He's pumping out weekly articles, documenting the trials and tribulations (e.g., blood clots, medication side effects) of his cancer journey, and his ambitious plans for the limited time he has left—travel, getting his finances in order, cementing a legacy through Humble Dollar, and even seeing a planned bathroom renovation through.
Much of what Jonathan has written in the past few months has given me pause, but nothing stopped me in my tracks like his bathroom renovation plans:
Crazy as it sounds, [my wife] Elaine and I are even exploring remodeling the upstairs bathroom, with all the disruption that’ll be involved. It’s something we discussed before my diagnosis. I’d love to get the work done for Elaine’s sake, plus the feeling of accomplishment would make me happy.
- Jonathan Clements, excerpted from here
It's not that I think he's crazy for moving ahead with the plan (to each their own), and it's not envy (I'm pretty happy with my own bathroom).
What strikes me is Jonathan's decisiveness, his clear-minded decision to make the most of the limited time he has in front of him.
No one would have questioned it if he had abandoned the reno under the circumstances. But Jonathan wanted to see the plans through, cancer be damned.
Not out of spite, though, and not out of denial. Jonathan knows full well what he's up against.
He's stuck with the plan because he wants his wife to have a nice bathroom. And maybe he’ll get to enjoy it, too. And also because he derives great pleasure from seeing projects through.
Jonathan’s “reno or bust” plan embodies a profound acceptance of his life circumstances and the finite nature of life. He has boldly chosen to live in the present moment, regardless of the uncertainties that lie ahead.
Reading about Jonathan’s reno plans brought to mind this Zen story:
The Parable of the Strawberry
A man travelling across a field encountered a tiger. He fled, the tiger after him. Coming to a precipice, he caught hold of the root of a wild vine and swung himself down over the edge. The tiger sniffed at him from above. Trembling, the man looked down to where, far below, another tiger was waiting to eat him. Only the vine sustained him.
Two mice, one white and one black, little by little, started to gnaw away the vine. The man saw a luscious strawberry near him. Grasping the vine with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other. How sweet it tasted!
- Excerpted from 101 Zen Stories
The protagonist in the parable, akin to Jonathan (and us, in general), confronts the imminent prospect of death. Either the tigers above him will get him, or the ones below will. In Jonathan’s case, the tigers are lung cancer.
Even as his life flashes before his eyes, the “man” notices the strawberry and takes a moment to relish its sweetness. Meanwhile, Jonathan diligently selects tiles for his new bathroom floor.
Strawberries and bathroom tiles may seem insignificant in the face of death. Why bother, right? However, they serve as potent metaphors for how we should live our lives: by focusing on the present moment, not getting distracted by the past or future, and making room for frivolity and enjoyment even as death looms large.
If we neglect the strawberries and bathroom tiles in our lives, we’re not truly living. Instead, we’re merely “waiting around to die,” as the legendary Texas songwriter Townes Van Zandt sang.
Or, sung differently, “waiting around to retire.”
Financial planning is often centered around the end game—retirement, estate planning, and so on. This is all well and good (we're all going to retire and die), but we can’t overlook the strawberries and bathroom tiles in the midst of all this. We live in the present, not in the future.
As Jonathan says:
I’m determined to make the most of every day, doing what I love and trying mightily to fend off life’s nonsense. It’s an attitude I recommend to readers—one I’d encourage you to embrace now, rather than waiting for a dire medical prognosis.
- Jonathan Clements, excerpted from here
Jonathan’s strawberry bush is overflowing and he’s enjoying every last one: spending quality time with his family, traveling with his wife, and continuously creating high-quality personal financial content.
What are your strawberries? How are you living in the present moment in your life?
I invite you to share in the Comments section.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read.
And thank you, Jonathan, for the beautiful and courageous example you’re setting for us all. Onwards—our hearts and minds are with you.
- The Buddh-i$h Investor
Take-home points:
We, as humans, spend most of our time caught up in the past or the future, while we only have the present moment to live in.
The parable of the strawberry illustrates the importance of finding joy and meaning in the present moment, even in the face of impending doom.
If you’re looking for more:
The Buddh-i$h Investor on Morbid financial planning
The master at work:
An update from Jonathan on his bathroom renov: https://humbledollar.com/2024/12/model-behavior/
This Substack is one of my strawberries. It's something I've always wanted to do and finally made the time for it. Just for the heck of it.