A blessed New Year to all. As we embark on a New Year, the year of the male earth dog (set to start on February 16 yet), we recommend that all of us should put our life in order, and plan well. I propose 18 universal things we can consider for a better-managed life. First, let us clarify our life's purpose, values and priorities. What do we really want to do before we leave this life? What values should guide our decisions? What do we want to focus on as distinguished from the trivial things we waste time and effort on? Second, let us reconcile with our family and loved ones, the people who bring us much joy and also much pain.
Third, we should manage our finances well. We need to either increase our income or lower our expenses, or both. We need to spend only half our gross income, save one fourth and invest the rest. Fourth, we need to throw away all credit cards, except one. These cause overdraft in financial status. We should not spend money we haven't yet earned. Fifth, we have to pay all our debts, starting with those with high interest. Sixth, we need to inventory all our assets and unload non-performing ones except ancestral legacies. Seventh, we need to write our last will and testament.
Eighth, serve a noble cause. Feed the poor, comfort the afflicted, and fight for justice. Ninth, share your talents. Teach young people how to swim and how to survive in the jungle or at seas if you know how. Tenth, search for lost friends, visit sick relatives, or prisons, and reconcile with your enemies. Eleventh, simplify your life. If you can walk, skip the bus or taxi. Give away old clothes and shoes. Donate old books to the community library. Twelfth, start writing your autobigraphy.
Thirteenth, take care of your health. Eat more fruits, vegetables, fish, and avoid fats and too much carbs. Sleep well and drink a lot of water. Fourteenth, learn a new language, start a new hobby. Fifteenth, learn to appreciate music and listen to classics, not today's noise. Sixteenth, travel if you can. Go to Palawan, visit Siargao, or the chocolate hills or simply Kawasan Falls in Badian. Explore museums and libraries. If you have the money go to Hawaii for the volcanoes, New York State for Niagara Falls, India for the Taj Mahal. Take the cruise over the Rhine from the Netherlands to Germany down to Switzerland.
Seventeenth, search your soul. And eighteenth, prepare to die smiling and grateful for a very fulfilled and meaningful life anytime and anywhere. Only those who are not afraid to die deserve to continue living.