Daily Lesson from Life 16 April 2009

"Health more important - Survey polled 4,106 people aged 18 and above from Asia. - Thu, Apr 16, 2009 The Straits Times

MAINTAINING good health is more important than building personal wealth for most Singaporean and Asia-Pacific high income households, according to a survey released on Thursday.


The Spending Patterns and Perspectives of High Income Households Survey, conducted by Visa in late 2008, showed that some 91 per cent of high income Asia-Pacific households regarded staying fit and healthy an important priority during the next two years.

This is followed by increasing their personal income (84 per cent), creating a better work or life balance (83 per cent) and saving money (83 per cent), reported Xinhua news agency."

This survey result hardly raised any surprises as there is every incentive for the high income households members to keep healthy so that they can enjoy the wealth they took pains to create and accumulate!

Lessons for me are:

1. being healthy is always the most important for human being! Being healthy also means being happy, being contended, being aware of one's fortune in health and wealth and everything else, and being wanted and loved!;

2. being healthy does not just happened! This is especially so for the wealthy as most invested a lot of time to create and accumulate wealth without providing time to keep fit and be healthy. It takes discipline to achieve the holistic healthy lifestyle as it is not natural to turn away rich and delicious foods and drinks. It is not easy to persist on exercising when you have some many invitations to high profile parties and functions with more rich and good foods and drinks awaiting you. It is not easy to want to suffer pain and discomfort when pushing your body and mind more than necessary! So it takes a great deal of discipline!;

3. being healthy also means mentally (and spiritually which I will not elaborate as it is a very personal choice). One of the best ways to be mentally fit and healthy for me is to start with the mindset that: I am here to create more benefits to people who are not in a position or less able to do that for themselves just because I can and I want to! With this mindset you will be able to focus on helping others using all the blessed naturally abilities, learned skills and knowledge, and tools.

I hope that the non-high income household will also be able to stay above the poverty line and be able to help others who are less fortunate than them as well. As that will keep them healthy mentally, which normally translate into healthier body too!

Health is the foundation of wealth as health is wealth!