After my retirement from the Police Force in the end of 2011, I have taken numerous trips overseas to see different
scenes, cultures and travelled to places in Hong Kong where I did not visit
before due either to remoteness or work commitments. I thoroughly enjoyed the
experiences and counted myself very lucky as I still have the financial
independence, ‘youth’ and
‘fitness’ to appreciate the nature and man-made wonders. I also signed up for courses and
participated in tests and examination to challenge my intellect. Then, what is next? I started to write my blog!
As I grew older and hopefully wiser, I strongly believe in the three basic elements in sustaining a happy retirement:
(1) sound financial planning
and management;
(2) good health, both
physically and spiritually; and
(3) good relationship
(1)
Sound financial planning and management is important to ensure a stress free
and sustainable retirement. To
achieve financial independence as a senior citizen, one has to start saving and
to invest wisely and early. I cannot say I am good at investment even after 25
years of investment but I have been following advices of those wise men in the
field, in particular, that of Warren Buffet:
On
earning: “never depend on single income. Make investment to create a second source.”
On
spending: “if you buy things you do not really need, soon you will have to sell
things you need.”
On
savings: “do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after
saving.”
On
taking risk: “never test the depth of river with both feet.”
On
investment: “do not put all eggs in one basket.”
On
expectations: “honesty is very expensive gift. Do not expect it from cheap
people.”
From
my own experiences and as my personal choice , I am in favour of investment in real estate especially in crowded cities such as Hong Kong where
demand of both commercial and residential properties is always higher than
supply; the tax is simple and tax rate remains low. For more information, you
may visit the site via the below link:
(2) Good health, both physically and spiritually, requires self-discipline that will ensure harmony from within you and energize you endlessly. I am committed to regular physical exercises and meditation to maintain my health, and I have mentioned these in other parts of my blog and therefore, I am not going to repeat myself here. Instead, I would like to introduce some iron-rich vegetarian recipes in future.
((3) Good relationship with family, friends, colleagues and clients will require ‘self-awareness’. When I was younger I was too pre-occupied with survival at workplace, family commitments and attaining other ‘human wants’, I confess that I was particularly not good at ‘self-awareness'.
I
am now working hard to improve my ‘self-awareness’ through meditation and
reflections. For those who are really eager to improve ‘relationship’ with
loved ones, family, colleagues, business partners, clients…., I would recommend
practicing Vipassana (insight) meditation which is most practical as long as you can persist,
and should sign up for meditation camps/retreat courses, e.g.
Good relationship starts from self-awareness, congruence between the inner self and behaviours; and finally, acceptance.
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