INVESTMENTS WE MAKE IN LIFE

“The best time to invest was 20 years ago, the second best time is
NOW!”

Summer is way over and were into our second month of school, for most of us including myself, its back to the real world, in my case as in REAL, after my summer stint travelling around as a Tour Guide (part time) I was supposed to report to another part time job-teaching, unfortunately my request for additional load of subjects (FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT and ECONOMICS) was denied by CHED as I still haven’t finished my MBA, (I still have to start my 2nd Year) worst, the subject that I’ve been teaching so far (WORLD LITERATURE) is not being offered this semester due to the number of enrolees in that subject not reaching the required minimum no. of 15 students, whereas in previous semesters there would be as many as 5 sections. There really was a huge drop in enrolees at the local College where I teach, I’m not sure if the sub-prime crisis has something to do with it, or most of the new students just enrolled at other schools. So now I have only one part-time job (tour guide) and my main job, a career agent for Philamlife (also called Financial Adviser) and since It’s too late to be a pro-surfer (lol)...maybe I should start talking about the things I should have done 20…no, make that 25 years ago. I’m talking about investments. For me there are only three, and while I arrange them in order of importance, all three pretty much determines the quality of life we are going to have.

They are:

1.) Health
2.) Education
3.) Financial


All three have also three things in common-
All three have their own misconceptions.
They are all easy to get into, but take a lot of discipline and will power to keep on, after all, contrary to popular notion, all three are a continuing process (or haven’t you noticed?)
And most important, they all point to one direction-“your future”



HEALTH

I’m not sure if you agree with me on this, as the most important investment you’ll ever make, this is one area in which the sum total is greater than its parts. While a complete program may involve four (or more) regimen (endurance, strength, flexibility, speed) the end result not only improves physical performance, but mental and psychological as well (better attitude, self-confidence, resistance to diseases, etc.your healthy body-healthy mind stuff) indeed, this is the most important because it contains the three foods: food for the body, food for the mind, and more importantly-food for the soul.

EDUCATION

This one I’m sure most of us can agree on, we also agree that, this takes place inside and outside the classroom, with the one taking place outside the classroom being the most important, since this also includes our home where character is being developed, and we all know how character takes the most major role in defining who we are, our relationships, career etc. and finally we all agree this is a never ending process, and the day we stop learning is the day we stop growing.

FINANCIAL

Everyone’s favourite among the three because of it’s main topic (money), and yet is the most misunderstood, and overrated. Misunderstood and maybe misinformed because everyone think it’s about getting rich, and everyone has his/her ideas what to do about it, and yet only few actually do something about it, overrated because those who do, place it above the other two, which is why when finally they actually end up being rich, even filthy rich, they’re so stressed out, that they actually cannot enjoy the money they have accumulated.

It’s no coincidence that I’m directly involved with all three, as an athlete/coach, teacher, and of course my main job. If I must admit one regret in life, it is that I wish had started it earlier. Going back to the best time to invest (20 years ago) can you imagine how your life might have turned out if you did, and if you’re one of those who did, can you imagine your life now if you didn’t?