Edible boxwood basil plant Happy Independence Day! This July 4th holiday has taken on new meaning because my husband and I both joyfully retired at the end of June. We’ve been working and saving most of our lives and we’re looking forward to living workplace-free. Work has kept us from leisure activities we’ve wanted to pursue such as rail-trail biking, kayaking, volunteering, and travel.
We’re certainly both very fortunate to be in good health and capable of enjoying the free time headed our way. Some people have remarked, “You’re so lucky!” and yet I always replace that phrase with, “Chance favors the prepared mind.” We’ve kept physically active, eaten healthy foods, and saved throughout our lives, which will help us maintain our physical and fiscal independence…
We’re certainly both very fortunate to be in good health and capable of enjoying the free time headed our way. Some people have remarked, “You’re so lucky!” and yet I always replace that phrase with, “Chance favors the prepared mind.” We’ve kept physically active, eaten healthy foods, and saved throughout our lives, which will help us maintain our physical and fiscal independence…
Early in our marriage I took a personal finance course at a local community college and sent my husband to the same course the following semester. We didn’t necessarily always follow a strict budget although we’ve always managed to save diligently. In my 30s I read a book called Your Money or Your Life (new edition) that completely changed my thinking about money and work. It helped us reorder our material priorities and live well on less. Although we didn’t create elaborate charts, we’ve always had financial goals that we gradually met over time.
It's interesting to note how personal wellness and finance share some common themes:
The reactions I’ve encountered since announcing our retirement plans have been interesting. Some people are very excited for us; a few have remarked that they love their work and do not intend to retire (really?!); others warned that we may not get along as well once we start spending so much time together. Time will tell. I married my best friend and still feel the same way about him. He makes me laugh, challenges my thinking (in a good way), and is a fantastic life and travel companion.
Being active, eating healthy foods, saving more, and spending less have led to our joyful independence. I wish you the same good fortune and hope that this recently launched Be Well blog will inspire you to move more and eat better. After all, your health is your greatest wealth!
Be Well,
Mary
July 23, 2013 Update: Check out a 30 Days to Financial Health video / article that further describes the health / wealth connection.
P.S. Please ignore the text box below; your comments are always welcome here.
It's interesting to note how personal wellness and finance share some common themes:
- There is an excess of information from competing forces that make it hard for people to discern the best way to approach their health and/or wealth challenges.
- Self-proclaimed experts who are adamant about certain issues override and obscure the science-based wellness and personal finance body of evidence that exists.
- Americans love a quick fix and yet both wellness and sound personal finance require changes that last a lifetime. The needed health and wealth lifestyle behaviors usually result in gradual, not rapid improvements.
- The nature of today’s personal health and wealth challenges are unprecedented historically. Our unbalanced caloric energy and financial equations therefore require an unprecedented approach to realign their balance.
The reactions I’ve encountered since announcing our retirement plans have been interesting. Some people are very excited for us; a few have remarked that they love their work and do not intend to retire (really?!); others warned that we may not get along as well once we start spending so much time together. Time will tell. I married my best friend and still feel the same way about him. He makes me laugh, challenges my thinking (in a good way), and is a fantastic life and travel companion.
Being active, eating healthy foods, saving more, and spending less have led to our joyful independence. I wish you the same good fortune and hope that this recently launched Be Well blog will inspire you to move more and eat better. After all, your health is your greatest wealth!
Be Well,
Mary
July 23, 2013 Update: Check out a 30 Days to Financial Health video / article that further describes the health / wealth connection.
P.S. Please ignore the text box below; your comments are always welcome here.
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