Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think
Enjoy yourself, while you’re still in the pink
The years go by, as quickly as a wink
Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think
Guy Lombardo famously sang these lyrics in a song that sums up the approach which many of us have to money and how we spend it. I was introduced to this song by my very good friend Bharat Bhise HNA founder and a life coach who helps out so many people get through issues and deal with life in general.
The idea behind the song is that we all work so hard, so tirelessly to get this big bucks which we think will give us the life that we have always dreamed of, but in reality, by the time that we get to the point where we have money and free time, we rarely have the energy or the desire to live lavishly as we once did. Some say that when you are younger you have energy but no money, then as you age these switches and you’ll have the money but no energy.
With all of this in mind, it is important that there are other things in life that we pay attention to, beyond how much money we have in the bank. as a disclaimer, I will say that nobody is suggesting you don’t get yourself on a good financial footing, but rather that you don’t work yourself to death when you aren’t enjoying it, solely for the money.
Family and Friends
When we work round the clock we miss out on the most special relationship of all between our families and our friends. Much like many animals out there, humans have always been in packs, we have always created communities and we have always remained together. When you are working for 17 hours per day, 6 days per week, your time with your family and your friends ends up getting crammed into a few vacation weeks per year, which is not enough time to truly nurture those relationships.
Nature
Around the world, we have some of the most breathtaking natural splendor that the majority of us gloss over because we are so pent upon getting to the office or to work, and making those dollars. It is only when this becomes less important that we actually open our eyes and take note of the breathtaking scenery and opportunities around us. Spending more time in nature is good for the body, mind, and soul, and it is something that many of us should do much better at taking note of.
Fun
There are some people who absolutely adore what they do and who are more than happy to spend 100 hours per week doing it. If you fall into that category than that is absolutely fine and you should keep doing what you love, for as long as you love it. For most of us, however, we are working tirelessly for something that we really don’t love, for something which we believe to be necessary in order to get the money to do the things that we can’t currently afford.
If you are in the latter category then you have to take your foot off thetas and invest in you and your own happiness. Ask yourself when the last time you had some pure fun was, the last time you jumped into a lake, the last time you took a go-kart out or the last time that you ran about in the rain. Having fun is not hard, we can all do it, in order to achieve that however you have to take some time off and you have to destress so that you can allow yourself the chance to really have some fun.
Health
They call stresses the silent killer and evidence has shown that those who go through life with heavy amounts of stress, are significantly more likely to suffer from later-life diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Right now your job and making money may seem like the most important thing in the universe but the reality is that all of that stress catches up to you and it will have a negative impact on your health in later life.
Any short term notions you have about health are foolhardy and if you aren’t paying attention to how your life will be when you get older, then you are going to find yourself with great difficulties in your twilight years. Take some time to destress, to remove the things in your life which cause you stress and focus instead on the importance of your health, both now and in the future.
Remember, enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think.
