What three elements of life would you say are the most important to you and why?
For me, the first important element of life would be health.
As I grow older over the years, I realised health forms the foundation of our existence. Without health, we can't enjoy many simple pleasures in life. We might not be able to travel freely if our knees are weak, we might avoid to cut down our favourite foods if we have to watch our diets due to some illnesses, and we might not be able to take care of our loved ones if we need others to take care of us instead. And of course, in worst cases, we might not be able to work and earn a decent income if we are sick.
I would be honest to say that I have taken for health for granted sometimes, and it's only recently that I get minor health scares on and off, that I start to feel like taking action to ensure I age healthily into my 40s, 50s, and beyond.
Last year I embarked on a walking challenge for myself and though I failed to meet my target, I increased my step count significantly. This year, I thought I should pay more attention to what I eat. This means cutting down on fast food, reducing the frequency of sugary drinks, and make conscious effort to eat more fruits and vegetables. With a BMI of 23, I am not sure if this will result in some form of weight loss, but I hope to see some improvement in my body fat percentage.
The second important element of life would be relationships.
Human are social creatures, and yes, even introverts do as well! Being an introvert, even though I do enjoy my "me time" and like to go about my daily routines alone, I do have a small social circle that I interact with on a daily basis. This includes family, loved ones, friends, etc which I group them all under relationships.
Just as there is nothing wrong with dining out alone, it can also be equally enjoyable having a catch up with a friend over a meal and find out what each other is up to. For me, striking a balance is key, because my "energy" gets depleted very quickly when I hang out in social gatherings. (I am sure introverts will get what I mean.) So having that amount of "me time" helps.
The third important element of life, which might be a little unconventional, is finances.
Finances is indeed a big word. I think it ranges from finding a job that earns a decent income, spending money prudently, investing money wisely, and as a result, not having to stress over money-related matters.
I have seen so many cases of families breaking apart from money-related matters, as much as some people feel that money doesn't bring happiness, I beg to differ. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean we need to be millionaires to feel happy, but the reality is money does actually solve many problems.
With sufficient money, one can seek medical help when unwell and not be stressed about medical costs, or take a taxi when you are in a rush to somewhere urgent and not feel stressed about the additional cost compared to taking public transport, or get a domestic helper if one needs help with chores or taking care of elderly at home. The list goes on, and I hope you can see that these are just little conveniences or even breathing spaces in life, which can make a great deal of difference, and it's not about spending money on a private jet or a Hermes bag.
Oops, I probably exceeded the word count (if there was one) with my continuous typing... So, that's all I have and thanks for reading! Let me know if you have any thoughts on my sharing and as always, have a great weekend!