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Monthly Letter

True Values

November 2026

I’m in the process of clearing my late father’s bungalow at the moment. My parents were the proud possessors of many things that they considered to have high value – fine china, paintings, signed limited edition prints by known artists (one of which was gifted to dad by the artist when he retired) and beautiful cut crystal.

They were certain that they were leaving me quite a legacy. It is true that I do love some of the paintings and they are now in my home but for the rest I did as they wanted and called in an auction house. The auction house has taken 5 lots. Most of the things that they considered so precious have no value today – nobody’s buying them.

This brings home the truth of all material value – something is only of value if people want it. ‘Things’ in other words have a very transient value:
precious in the eyes of one person and worthless in another’s eyes.

So what is of true value? Relationships I believe have a long lasting and true value – with family, with friends, companion animals and with God. These are the things that hold their worth: the things that will be precious to us throughout our lives.

As to the rest: we enjoy them but should realise that compared to what is of true worth they hold no value.

Fran Monahan