Often we make plans and something gets in the way to muck up those plans. That is really called LIFE.
My year started out like most other years. A lazy day after NYE with friends. A reflection of what I had achieved the prior year and a setting of goals and things I want to achieve this year and in the next few years. 7 days later this was all put on hold and my children’s lives changed forever as their father passed away.
Now I’m not going into all of that at this stage. But I will say there is nothing like death for people to stop and look at their own lives, their achievements, their dreams and their possessions and the importance or unimportance of these things.
For me, I’m a glass half full kind of a person. I always try to take good out of a bad situation, and because of that I feel my life is less stressful than it could otherwise be.
I try to live a positive life, and take the attitude that everything happens for a reason good or bad. And then I try and learn from the lesson life provides.
Things I have learned in recent weeks/months (and in some cases already knew but needed a reminder) are:
- Your health is the most important thing;
- Always be financially set up for emergencies;
- We can be surrounded by “things” but not necessarily want or need all of the “stuff”.
I am just going to touch briefly on these as they are extensive topics in themselves.
Your health. It’s a funny thing that we take for granted when we are in good health, and it’s not until there is something wrong that we are really prompted to make changes in our life. This may be giving up smoking for some people, losing weight and making better food choices, being a little more active. Now this is really finding what your “why” is. The bigger the why, the more likely we are to take action.
Financial security. There is nothing better then the financial security of being able to make choices and not have your choices made for you because of the money in your bank.
Stuff. We want it, we love it, we are surrounded by it, but how much of it do we really need? Sometimes letting go of some or a lot of this is such a feeling of freedom. As the saying goes we often spend money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.
This year I am going to concentrate on getting my life where I want it to be. By this I mean get rid of the kilos I don’t want, or that are making me unhealthy and more at risk of health problems, and be more active. I am setting up my financial security so I can call the shots not my bank. And I am getting rid of the accumulation of stuff that serves me no joy.
I will work through these and post on my progress, my discoveries and road blocks. I don’t want any extreme diets, or budgets. But hopefully, I can inspire you to make the necessary changes in your own lives whatever they may be.
Priscilla Du Preez[/caption]