Doge to the Moon
Life Lessons from Seniors
Throughout history, practically every culture revered its elderly members. These were people whom the entire community cherished and respected for their deep knowledge and wisdom about life.
Even today, we can still learn important lessons from people who have “been there, done that.” Here’s how:
Don’t Take Life Too Seriously
We live in a culture that takes life desperately seriously. Everyone is worrying all the time about their status, whether they will go to heaven, and whether they are fulfilling their potential.
For wise older people, though, the question is different. They come to realize that life is not a journey with a destination. It’s just a big flow and that taking it too seriously actually harms the experience. Much better to dance along.
Laughter Can See You Through
When life gets you down, you can sometimes forget to laugh. Everything just seems so hard that you put all your energy into succeeding instead of enjoying the process.
Laughter, however, can be great medicine. It’s a way of celebrating the good times and getting through the bad times. Older people have a fascinating ability to laugh in the face of adversity, proving that a little humor can go a long way.
Focus On What’s Important
Time is limited, especially if you’re in the latter years of life. For that reason, where you focus matters a great deal. You want to concentrate on the things that really matter to you and not focus on what everyone else thinks. After all, it’s your life. Nobody else can live it.
Family Is Critical
If you ask knowledgeable nursing home abuse lawyers about the biggest threats to seniors, they’ll tell you that it’s their carers. That’s why many older people believe family is critical. As you go through life, you always need people around you who you can trust. If you don’t have that, you’ll automatically put yourself in a vulnerable position. Family members support you unconditionally, even when times get tough.
Learn That Some Things Just Don’t Matter
Think about all the tiny things that cause you concern during a regular day. Somebody might make a critical remark or you might be worrying about what your landlord is going to think about the state of your flat.
But wise older people generally have more perspective. They know what’s important to health and happiness, and what’s not. So they focus on that instead.
Critically, the most successful older people don’t bear grudges or hold onto bitterness. They let it go, choosing to move on with their lives instead.
Spend Time On Joyful Activities
Think about how much time you spend watching TV or working in a job you dislike. A lot of your life goes to waste.
But wise elders try to focus on the essence of life – the stuff that really matters.
For you, that could be things like spending time with kids or focusing on artistic projects. Or it could mean going deeper spiritually and letting go of the material world.
Smart Financial Ideas to Be Independent
Being financially independent should be a goal for all young adults. No matter what your goals are, learning smart money practices is still a good idea. Learning how to manage your money is one of the skills you will need in the future. As we age, we usually become wiser after making mistakes. We learn that there are smarter ways of doing things. One of those things is to learn how to be financially prepared for the unexpected.
There is no way to be fully prepared for what life throws at us since no one can really see the future. However, you can at least be better off if you’re financially ready for extra expenses. Here are some ways that you can achieve financial independence for yourself.
- Know your priorities. By knowing what is most important to you, you can then plan accordingly. Necessities are of great importance. You have to have at least some money to survive. If one of your goals is to buy a house, for example, you’ll need to build up your credit to obtain a mortgage later. When the time comes to start house hunting, you’ll be financially ready. You’ll also need to figure out what you want in a house in addition to making yourself ready to buy one. You’ll need to make sacrifices for things to be able to get other things that you want.
- Calculate your income and plan a budget. One smart way to plan your budget is to use the 50-30-20 rule. Half of your income should go towards your housing and necessities. Next is to set aside 30% of your income for spending money, such as vehicle fuel, entertainment, impulse spending, etc. After allotting spending funds, you should budget 20% of your income to go towards your savings and debt payments.
- Build up an emergency fund. If you follow the 50-30-20 rule, then the final 20% should be going into a savings account to plan for unexpected expenses. Emergency savings can help you to be prepared to handle your expenses if you would lose your job. After you have an emergency fund set aside, concentrate that 20% on paying off your debt.
- Saving for retirement early. Most companies offer a retirement plan as a part of their benefits package. Some employers will match your contributions into it. If your employer doesn’t offer retirement planning options, then you can also set up a retirement account on your own. You can research almost anything on the internet. There are likely thousands of websites that can offer useful information about investing. Some internet sources are not very reliable, so make sure you’ve got credible sources. Insider trades is a source that can help you to research investment opportunities. If you need more help with investing, a stockbroker handles investment portfolios. They can also help you with making your investment decisions.
- Look for ways to save money. Planning for your future is very important, but thinking about the present time is also important. Many people and companies may try to deceive you so they can make a quick buck. If you discover some ways to save money, you can then set your mind at ease. You can try bundling some services or switching to another company to save some money. Making the most out of your money is another source that can offer you some great financial advice and more.
- Look out for free tools that can help with budgeting. There are also many budget planning applications available for smartphones and other devices. Often you can receive financial services through your bank as well. Online banking and bill paying are some of the services that you can receive from banks.
Budgeting is critical in planning personal finances. There is a quote from Benjamin Franklin that applies to many concepts in life, “If you fail to plan, then you’re planning to fail.” No one wants to fail, but it does happen. So it is much better to be prepared for problems that can arise. Planning sometimes provides an extra cushion to help the person overcome financial hardships faster.