Work till 70 for a luxurious life?

Morning tea time when I desperately needed a cup of coffee to wake/shake myself up (to survive another day at work), I met Mrs Luxury in front of the cafe.

Mrs Luxury is 60+.

She has countless luxury handbags (even she doesn’t know how many...).

She is always and only in luxury brand clothes.

She knows and dines in many famous restaurants run by celebrity chefs.

She lives in a luxurious serviced apartment that requires very high strata levy to maintain the high standard living condition which she thinks necessary (over $10K per year).

She travels on a very high budget (World class cruises, trains, business class flights. 5 star hotels, etc.…).

She only has high quality food and drinks (very expensive) to match her life style.

She buys a world brand travel luggage only as others are not good enough.

mmmmmm….

I am confident enough that these descriptions would explain more than enough why I call her Mrs Luxury.

Well, I don’t want to be judgemental or criticizing as everyone has their own priorities in their lives so it is just fine to me what she likes and how she lives. Her life style doesn’t bother me to interact with her at all. However, whenever I meet her and talk to her (mostly, listening to her), I cannot stop wondering why she is still at work. Why does she spend her precious time at work, 9 to 5, 5 days a week, 48 weeks a year for the last 35 years of her life when she is that wealthy and especially when she has already passed our standard retirement age? I really can’t get the logic. Can you? Maybe, she really loves what she is doing?

One of the best things I have learnt from my life is ‘do not be shy to ask’ (as long as it doesn’t invade personal space) instead of guesstimating and making a story. Therefore, I asked her why she still works. Here are her answers.

Of course, as most of us, she doesn’t like to come to work every day. She wants to leave the workforce as soon as she can.

Well….

But!

She cannot afford to stop working at this moment.

She cannot stop working till 70 to save up money for her “COMFORTABLE” retirement.

She needs money to keep her high-standard lifestyle.

She needs money to buy things which make her happy and they are not cheap.

She needs to pay for the high strata levy in order to live in her luxurious apartment.

She smiled while she was answering my WHY.

Hilariously, I was even more confused than before the conversation. Now I feel that I am lost. Is it worth to sacrifice your life to buy stuff and live luxuriously when you cannot afford it? Maybe it can be for someone but, definitely not for me.

Unfortunately, she is not the only one around me who is ready to sacrifice her time and life in order to buy and have more things which give them an instant pleasure and excitement. One of my friends’ husbands has just started a weekend job addition to his full time job to maintain her shopping obsession and she has happily chosen not to spend more time with her husband for buying more stuff.

How about you? What are your thoughts? I will leave the verdict with you.

I don’t want to say which one is better for all. Some of us can be satisfied by indulging themselves with all the luxurious goods and services, and some of us can enjoy happiness within their means. One of my friends who know my spending habits emphasised that I should enjoy my life more. I am still not sure what she really meant and why she thinks that spending money and buying unnecessary stuff will make my life more enjoyable than spending more time with myself and loved ones. One thing I am very clear is “Time” is the most important thing to me and I am not dare to exchange my free time in order to decorate my life to be looking better. I do not have much stuff to show to others like Mrs. L but, I am glad that I have achieved financial freedom by living a simple life that can allow me to leave the job any time I want.

Are you ready for choosing having more things or more meaningful time? 

I am confident that all is up to each of us to choose how to live so, each of us needs to be responsible for the consequences.

Today, work was same boring as any other days (sorry for being so negative but… I can’t help) but definitely talking with Mrs. L was not too bad. Knowing that I am about 20 years younger but certainly ready for enjoying my financial freedom whenever I want made me feel cool. Today, my 10 dollar top from Target looks better than ever. Hehe…

6 Reasons Why I Love Bali

Friday afternoon(nearly 5pm), I am still physically sitting in front of computer and counting the every single second but my mind has been already left work and dreaming about our exceptional holidays we have made. Ummm… They were absolutely FANTASTIC!!!!

 

Last trip to Bali was our fourth time and we still cherished our time in Bali. So, guess what? We have booked another trip to Bali!!! and I cannot wait for THE DAY.

 

Each time, we have been to Bali with different reasons and different circumstances but Bali always offered us more than we wished for.

 

Our first trip to Bali as young and poor international students was for a simple curiosity about different culture. Of course, cheap travel cost was an extra charm for our very thin pocket.  The curiosity turned into priceless enjoyment and non-exchangeable pleasure every time we return.

Last time while enjoying the magnificent sunset and sniffing the pleasant ocean breeze, my husband mumbled that what a pity it would be to miss this amazing feeling because not being here, and I had to nod. “Yes, indeed…”

My husband and I are bit of travel freaks (we can’t sit still). We have been travelling over 30 countries so we can tell that we have seen many places, and Bali is one of our most favourite places to come back any time. Why?

 

These are the reasons why we love Bali.

 

1. Weather in Bali is absolutely amazing. Especially when we have to fight with cold and depressing winter weather in Sydney (June to August), Bali’s hot weather becomes a magic. I have to admit that the sizzling hot weather can be unfavourable to some people but I simply love the crispy hot. Early morning and afternoon cool ocean breeze effortlessly moves up my feeling. A singlet and light baggy pants are all I need in Bali and I truly love the feeling of lightness. Please note that Bali has 2 seasons, wet (November-March) and dry (April to October) season so be cautious if you want to make your trip enjoyable.

 

2. Affordability is a gem. If you are patient enough to plan a trip ahead (earlier), you can get great deals for Bali including flights, hotels and food. Of course, there are tons of luxurious hotels in Bali but if you can keep your standard reasonable, we can find very nice accommodations for very (surprisingly) cheap price. Paying less doesn’t mean that you will get a bad deal or need to accept a lower standard. If you invest bit more effort to find a right place (good service with cheap price) to stay, you will be nicely surprised. Food is so cheap and nice. Especially, trying local food will make your mouth and also your wallet happy. Whenever we go to Bali, we don’t need to worry too much about our budget as quite often, we spend less money than we would spend at home. Isn’t it awesome that you don’t need to worry about money when you go on holiday? Certainly, yes to me.

 

3. Fruits in Bali are amazing. I love eating. I truly love tasting the exotic fruits with unusual textures, colours, shapes and sizes that you won’t find elsewhere. Only imagining the fruits makes my mouth watering. Mangosteen, Mango, Papaya, Rambutan, Custard apple, Passion fruit, etc…. Whenever we are in Bali, we go to a local market to explore and buy these fruits almost every morning and enjoy them all day as much as we can. Make most out of your holiday in Bali by pleasing your senses – discover and try as many Balinese fruits as you can. I can’t wait to feel the tropical exotic taste.

 

4. Bali can offer you a true treasure of natural beauty. You can enjoy relaxing moments on the picturesque beaches all day long if you wish, but if you get out and explore, you will definitely enjoy Bali’s mixed beauty of nature, from jungles, forests, rice paddies, to active volcanoes. I have been to Bali so many times but still can stop taking photos and enjoy looking at them over and over. The striking views easily make your holiday extraordinary. Imagining myself sitting on the beach for watching the spectacular sunset always makes me serene.

 

5. Staying Bali is super easy. There is everything you need. Last trip, we flew to Bali for 2 weeks with only a small cabin bag. All we needed were simple/light summer clothes and sandals (of course, my running shoes and my husband’s surfing shorts). We could buy there whatever we needed with very good price. Unlikely many non-English speaking countries, you don’t need to worry about communication in English in Bali. Believe or not, most Balinese are very good at many languages. Start from English, Russian, to even Korean/Japanese… Any languages that can bring them money from tourists, they are happy to learn and speak. This easiness can make our trip super easy and comfortable.

 

6. Bali’s unique culture is a complete charm. I love the colour of Bali. Balinese people practise Hinduism ceremonies every day so you can see eye-catching ceremonies anywhere anytime.  Looking at the Balinese ladies who wear sparkling white dresses and put colourful fruit baskets on their heads in a long queue totally captures my attention. I also love their colourful traditional paintings, wood and stone carvings, gold and silver craft. The uniqueness of Bali can make me never feel tired of coming back again and again.

 

We have already booked all the hotels and purchased a travel insurance (please make sure to have one), and cannot stopping counting days to THE DAY. We have found very good deals for the hotels that lighten up our trip even more. I am still sitting in front of computer but my mind is already on Kuta beach for the best sunset and relaxed. Ummmmmm…… Why don’t you join us?

 

 

 

Some photos from Bali in 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 Things To Do When You Lose Your Job

My lovely boss has announced in front of my 50 colleagues that my position is currently being reviewed and reorganised shortly. 

 

‘WTF!!!! (sorry) Reviewed and reorganised? What does it mean by that? It means my position will be discontinued. Should I smile or cry?’

 

‘W…T….F!!!! (sorry again)’

 

I have been waiting for this opportunity over a year. HOWEVER, honestly it was not pleasant news at all to hear unexpectedly, especially in front of so many people. Didn’t I get an email from the boss this morning said “Well done”? What a reward I could get from the well-done work. Well…. That is our working life, isn’t it? Our present and future (also my past 10 years) can be decided and redirected by employers at any time. Tough? However, it is an absolute fact as long as we are employed.

 

Am I okay now? Fine. How? That’s what I am going to talk how I can be fine when I will lose my job.

1. Don’t be panic: This is not the end of the world so don’t think or behave it is. Look around how many people have gone through the similar processes at work and still live as before. I know this is not a good news and even worse to someone with difficult circumstances but remember, as long as we are healthy, nothing is unsolvable. Therefore, don’t be panic and try to control your mind. Panicking will get you nowhere. All will be fine as long as you control yourself.

 

2. Be positive: Try to find good points instead of hammering yourself with bad points. I will get over 7 months payout if I take a voluntary redundancy which is not too bad. I will be motivated by looking for other options which could lead me better for my future and that I have been careless for a very long time. It can be an excellent opportunity to do nothing for a while to recharge myself. I will finally have some free time to think about my future instead of living for only day by day. There are far more. Sleep-in, going to the beach whenever I want while my colleagues are working (hahaha…), opening own business, volunteering, gardening, etc… I know it is not easy to be positive when you are down but it is necessary to see good points in order to solve any difficulties. Remember that negativity can blackout you from the all the opportunities.

 

3. Share with others: Don’t try to keep it only in yourself. Losing a job is not a shameful thing or a secret thing to hide from others. Share your situation with people who you can trust and learn their thoughts. The first benefit of sharing is that you will feel much better after talking. You can also see the same problem from a different angle which you didn’t realise. When I told my husband about the chance of discontinuing my position at work, he took it very differently from me (more rational approaches), and it helped me to review and refocus on the issue. Ask friends if there are any job opportunities around. For sure, you can be lucky.

 

4. Make a plan: This is the time to make a new plan for your life. We all are busy working and get tired with our everyday working life. One of the worst things we can face through our working life is that we are too tired to make a plan for a better life. Most of us are living for only today. Now, you have got the chance to make a new plan so take and use the chance. I have been working for my current employer almost 10 years. I didn’t expect that I would stay at the same company this long when I was 10 years younger. If I knew then, my plan would have looked quite different from now. I am now 10 year older and my choice that I need to make now has to better. Make a proper plan for your future that can make your life BETTER.

5. Save harder and live simpler: Funny enough, losing job doesn’t discriminate people. Anyone can lose the job unwillingly (or willingly) at any time. Therefore, we need to be ready for the event. I can’t not imagine myself to get the news 5 years ago when my budget was extremely tight to pay off my mortgage. However, I feel quite relaxed because I have my financial independence now. I can survive without going to work every day for a while. I don’t think I can afford a luxurious lifestyle without work but I am sure that my current lifestyle can be easily continued without working every day. My husband and I have saved harder and lived a simpler life than others in order to be free from the forced employment (have to work stage). What I want to talk now is, be ready for the hardship and save as much as you can to be financially independent. You are then truly safe from losing jobs.

 

 

I am not sure when I will get the final notice from my boss but I feel quite ready for the happy news. Sorry, I know many people who are not ready yet would not be happy with my comment. All I want to say is that we all need to be ready for the event that can come to anyone at any time. Be strong and keep positive. If you need to find a job, there will be a job that is waiting for you. Someone told me that we need only one job and there will be always the job. Quite promising, isn’t it? Remember that opportunities are found within threats so, be positive. Try hard to get your financial independence as this will free you permanently.

 

I hope you feel better now as I do.

How To Be Happier

I had a very blue weekend that I certainly didn’t wish for and I am still struggling to overcome the grief. Honestly, it is neither easy nor simple especially when I have to carry on my normal life as nothing has happened to me. Therefore this blog is partially for me to fight back my sadness and also for someone who are seeking a better way to overcome their difficulties.

Do you feel down and feel absolutely lonely? Do you feel lost and have no idea where to start again? Do you feel there is nothing makes you feel better? Do you wish to be happier?

Yes, I do. If you are on a same boat as me, let’s find out how to make us happier.

1.      Realise that no one is always happy. Life cannot be always favourable to anyone. There will be ALWAYS ups and downs to EVERYONE’s life. Even who are extremely rich, who are genius and who seems to have everything we wish to have, I am sure that they would have their own problems and wounds. So, don’t think you are the only one. Believe me there are many people who are experiencing downs at the moment same as you so be strong.

2.      Accept the fact. I know you wish that if it could have been better, if it has never been happened or if the outcome could have been different. However, the outcome never cannot be changed or disappeared as it has already happened and you cannot do much. Accept the consequence and stop thinking about it over and over again. It will never help you to feel better and happier. If anything is beyond your control, just let it go. That is the way.

3.      Do not compare you with anyone. We all are different. Enjoy being who you are and what you can do instead of envying who has better situations than you at this moment. We all are unique. Love and respect yourself as who you are. Comparison and blaming yourself will never get you better or happier.

4.      Move. Stop sitting down and being sorry for yourself. I know you don’t feel like but you need to move in order to lift up your mood and yourself. Go for a walk or a run. Join a gym to make yourself and fitter and healthier. Get a fresh air and feel beauty of being sweaty. No one can be happy when they are weak and unfit. Physical movement will help you to stop being negative.

5.      Be positive. Try to find good points in anything rather than bad once. Try to be happy with what you have rather than being upset with what you don’t have. Appreciate what you can do rather than be disappointed by what you can’t do. Respect others and thank them for being around you. There any many bad things but there are far more good things around you. Positive mind can only bring the happiness into your life.

6.      Be with positive people. Positivity is contagious. When you are being with happy and alive people, your mood can be uplifted and your view on life can be more likely optimistic. Share their positive view on life and learn how they deal with problems. Talk and laugh with them.  Trust me, you will be far happier.

7.      Plan something good. Why don’t you start planning a trip with your loved one? Looking for a place you wanted to go, booking hotels and imagine yourself walking around there. Take a break from your ordinary working life and explore new places, and make unforgettable memories. Travel works really well to me. Experience something different and see how others live always fascinate me. Well… I feel already better.

8.      Do what you like to do not what you have to do. Being an adult offers a lot of responsibilities that limit us to do what we really want to do. If you really want to be happier, you need to do what you like to do rather that what you have to do. Think about your dreams that have been buried in your heart and imagine how wonderful it would be when you can do what you like to do. Find a way and pursue your dream to be truly happy.

I have to admit that these tips are not special or new. We all know how to make ourselves happier but we seem to forget/ignore doing it or only hoping for a miracle that can change our life. If we don’t try to help ourselves, no one can help us. Being happy is our birthright and it can be achievable by only us (not by anyone). Let’s smile more and be happy. Am I happier now? Yes, I am. How about you?  

I am back!

Where have I been?

  

As some animals who need to sleep during winter time to survive the rest of the year, have I been hiding to recharge myself? Have I been extraordinarily busy with anything particular? 

Unfortunately, I cannot think of any clear answers to excuse my absence but let’s say I just needed a break in order to refresh myself to share my thoughts and experiences. I have been bit down and I am trying to push myself up again TODAY.

We all know we need a break sometimes. I respected my feeling that required a break and it truly helped. I stopped writing and also painting in the end of last year. I started missing them but couldn’t dare to start. Finally last week, I held my paint brush and started painting with joy and excitement. Today, I am trying to write again. Honestly, I am having a bit awkward feeling with my writing but ‘start writing’ means far more than ‘good writing’ to me so I will keep trying.

In the end of 2013, when we were travelling in Dharamsala in India, I accidently stepped in a little shop which sells Buddhism decorations. I didn’t go into the shop for buying anything. I just loved the scent from the shop and ended up chatting with the unusual shop owner who was from Norway and decided to live peacefully in Dharmasala as a Buddhist. The end of our conversation she handed me a picture of Dalai Lama, and whispered me (with the unforgettably serene smile) “Relax….”. Any reason, the word stays in me whenever I feel anxious and uneasy.

We all need a time to relax, don’t we?

If you feel worn-out,

If you feel down,

If you feel lonely,

If you feel anxious,

If you feel lost,

Whenever you feel like to escape from our ordinary life,

Take a deep breath in, and out and allow yourself a break until you feel ready as it is our birthright.

I am back! 

What's Your Fitness Age?

 

 

 

 

 

 

How old actually are you? Do you know your fitness age?

 

Almost every morning (even in rainy days), my husband and I see this man (in his mid-50’s) who runs around our streets over and over. We live in a suburb which is named “…HILL” so you can simply imagine how hilly the streets would be but he runs like almost flying (I am not joking). I have never spoken to him (as he runs too fast…. Haha) to know how old he is but, I am 100 percent sure that his fitness age will be far lower than his chronological age. He is truly inspirational.

 

He is not the only one. I can find many older people (chronologically) who have more stamina than the youngsters to pursue their hard-core exercise regime. I call my Pilate teacher ‘A machine’. She is far older than me (A mum of 4 grown-up kids) but I have seen not many people who are as strong as her. So, I am neither exaggerating nor making stories.

 

So, what is person’s real age then? Is age only number? How old really are you?

 

It is easy to pick up the number for our chronological age as it is unchangeable fact from the moment of our birth. However, do you know what will be your fitness age? Is it not easy to guesstimate? The good news is that modern technology and studies can help us to figure out our fitness age by answering a few simple questions.

 

The idea about fitness age has been developed by researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, who have studied fitness and how it relates to wellness for years. Main idea of the study which I fully agree with is that a person’s fitness age is a better predictor of longevity than chronological age. I am not quite sure how our fitness level can help us to live and how much longer but I trust that our fitness level can help us to enjoy our life longer and more. The good news is that we can decrease our fitness age unlike our actual age. It sounds promising, doesn’t it?

 

If you want to know your fitness age, try this online calculator (https://www.worldfitnesslevel.org/#/). It asks a few simple questions for determining fitness age. I was nicely surprised by finding out my own fitness age is more than 20 years younger than my chronological age. No wonder how I feel so young and healthy. Please allow me to be proud of the result and show-off. Some people would be proud of their careers or wealth but for me, the most important thing in life is health so, I am very pleased to know my fitness level is higher than I expected.

 

Hereunder are what I have found out from the questions of the online fitness age calculator in order to decrease our fitness age. They are surprisingly simple and basic.

 

1.      Regular exercise

2.      More movement at work (reduce sitting hours)

3.      Keep a healthy waistline and weight/BMI(Body Mass Index)

4.      Reduce alcohol consumption

5.      Stop smoking

6.      Watch food what you eat (More fruits and vegetables, less sugar and fatty food)

7.      Control stress level

8.      Be happy with yourself and life

 

We already know these, don’t we? Unfortunately, knowing them will not help us unless doing them.

 

I often see young people who ignore their body and health. It truly makes me upset. We all have only one life and the life is finite. It should be the full reason to love and look after our body and mind. I seriously recommend you to find out your fitness age. There is nothing to lose. If you are happy with your fitness age, keep your life style. If you get disappointed (shocked) with the result, it is time to do something. Don’t forget that you own your life and only you can change your life. The good thing is you can decrease your fitness age. It is all up to you.

 

 

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/whats-your-fitness-age-20141020-118vcn.html

 

 

Why don't we ask any more?

 

 

 

“Mum!!!!! Why? Mum!!! How? Mum!!! What? Mummmmmm!!!” “Why?” “How mum?”

 

I must be such an annoying kid as I had to find out ‘reasonable’ reasons to do anything that I was asked to do. I can’t clearly remember what kinds of answers were reasonable to me as a child but I certainly remember that I was extremely stubborn and unenforceable to do anything that didn’t make sense to me. I asked countless questions until my poor mum was totally exhausted and shut me up (=spanked).

 

I was pretty annoying to most of my teachers at school, too. I had to know why I had to do what I don’t like to do and why I couldn’t do things what I wanted to do. Therefore, I kept asking many questions until I felt comfortable to obey or reject. I was never shy to ask what I wanted to find out and it worked well until I faced “the day” when I realized that I can’t ask whatever I want to know. The time finally has arrived when I realized that I was not the leader of the world any longer. I had to learn that I had to listen and ‘DO NOT’ ask too many questions for my own sake.

 

As I was growing older, I found out that people, especially who have higher status or authorities don’t like to be asked. Let’s blame the life as usual! Life taught me that they like people who listen and ask no questions about what to do and I have become one of the people who say not much. To be a good student, a good employer and a good human being….

 

Most of weekdays I get up 6AM to go to work. To avoid the terrifying traffic jam (1hour for 14Km), every year, I get up earlier than previous year. I spend most of day times in the office without windows (just in case someone can jump out… haha). I go home in dark and have dinner, watch news to find out what bad things have happened and go the bed for the early start. I cannot imagine how I would look like if I do not try to spend lunch time for my exercise regime. I wouldn’t be able to know what kind of weather it is without checking ‘Weather information sites’. I know the weather forecasts are getting more and more accurate but it is still different from the actual feeling. Am I right? I have been repeating this life routine over 10 years without asking ‘Why?’

 

This afternoon on the way to the gym at lunch time, I simply couldn’t comprehend the fact that I have been spending all morning inside (and I will spend all afternoon inside) when the weather is astonishingly beautiful. And, guess what? Suddenly, the forgotten word smashed my head. ‘WHY?’

 

‘Why do I have to stay inside all day when I could enjoy the day better outside?’

‘Is this how I wished to live?’

‘Am I really happy with what I am doing?’

‘Is money that important so I can scarify my life?’

‘What kind of life I have dreamed of? Is this one?’

‘How long can I last living like this?’

‘Are there any other ways to spend my life better/fulfilled?’

‘Why can’t I try to live better?’

‘What is the better life?’

 

Please do not presume that I was only too emotional at that time. Please don’t discourage me by that many people have the same questions but they choose to live without asking because that is the way of life that we are supposed to be live (as we are told). Please don’t tell me we all have to live as how others live and don’t question about our life.

 

I am neither blaming myself nor complaining others. I am just asking questions that I have supposed to ask and looking for the answers that I have been reluctantly avoiding. Honestly, I don’t have all the clear answers to my questions at this stage but I feel far better as I feel empowered to be a leader of my own life again. I claim myself to have an ownership on my life and will keep asking questions in order to find better ways to live.

 

How about you?