From the beginning of new life in Spring, to the end of the old one in Winter. Which Season are you in now? And are you having a good or bad season?
The Seasons of Life
Everyone knows what the 4 seasons are. And every year, these seasons influence even the simplest of choices that we make. From the clothes we wear, to the food we eat, and even the social activities we partake in. But did you know that the same 4 seasons also represent the different stages of our lives? And similarly, the personal choices we make in each season are significantly different. Can you guess what are the ages that correlate to the 4 seasons?
Spring (from birth to late teens): We are largely dependent on our parents and have almost no earning power, nor freedom of choice.
Summer (late teens to late-20s): This is usually the experimental phase of many firsts, where we enter adulthood, can officially participate in social activities such as drinking, clubbing, smoking. It is in this season that we secure our first “real” jobs, have proper spending power, and finally get a taste of freedom from our parents’ control.
Autumn (late-20s to retirement): By now, most of us will have gotten over the initial euphoria of being an adult. We enter into middle age and take on big responsibilities such as buying a car, getting married, purchasing property, raising children, caring for retired parents, starting our own business, etc. As such, this is also the longest season we experience, and can stretch to as long as 40 years.
Winter (from retirement onwards): The final season of life, where we hope to finally be done with the rat race, as it is our last chance to check items off of our bucket lists.
Our lifestyle choices follow the Seasons of our Lives
As we shift from one season to another, so do our priorities. Let’s take a look at some of the key differences in the later 3 seasons:
Summer: We finally earn our own keeps and don’t have to ask permission from our parents about what we can or cannot buy. This is the season where we are primarily focused on what we want to do. From going on big budget holidays, to buying big name fashion labels, to splurging on social entertainment at nightclubs or trendy restaurants. As such, it can even get out of control for some of us, where we are overwhelmed by what we want, and end up in debt as a result of spending more than what we earn. This can spill over to the next season where we may still be paying off the bad decisions made.
It is particularly useful to have “a Voice of Reason” in this season of our lives, someone who has “been there, done that”, so that we can learn from their experience, instead of painfully having to pay for our own. And whenever any of her clients ask for her opinion, Chloe has always openly shared the “common mistakes” she herself made when she was a rookie in her season of Summer.
Autumn: We are now more mindful of the various commitments we have, and do not just give in to our desires. Instead, we find a balance between the 2 sides; what we need (our rational side), versus what we want (our emotional side). For example, rather than to blow $5,000 on the next holiday or branded bag, we think about how many months of mortgage or household expenses, that same $5,000 can last us. We then make a compromise with ourselves and settle for a $2,000 vacation, or wait another year before we buy that dream handbag instead. Of course, some of us will have an easier time transitioning into this new mindset, while some of us may take a much longer time adjusting our behaviour.
This is the season that will make or break us, because it is the longest season, and also because there is no more time left after that, as it is also the season right before our Winter. There are many financial decisions to be made, and most of them come with a big price tag.
You cannot ask someone who has never bought a car or a house, what your budget should be, simply because someone inexperienced, will be just as clueless as you! And just like the majority of her clients, Chloe is also currently in the season of Summer. So feel free to seek advice on major financial decisions, straight from the horse’s mouth.
Winter: It is in this final season of our lives, that we are either reaping the rewards of our responsible choices, or paying for the bad ones we made, earlier on in Autumn. Some of us will still have to work even in old age, because we took too long to change our lifestyle choices, while Winter will be the highlight of others, where we at last able to fulfil the dreams we have accumulated along the way. It could be a month-long holiday in Europe, a 3 months volunteer trip in a far-fetched place, or even permanent migration to another country for a whole new beginning.
Have you started getting ready for your Winter yet? If you are already close to 30 years old and you hope your Autumn ends when you turn 60, then do you realise that you are already midway thru to your Winter?
What kind of comforts are you willing to sacrifice, or do you hope to have in your Winter? A fireplace with ample wood? Proper insulation? Hot water shower? A generous supply of winter wears such as thermals, wool socks, warm blankets?
It would be miserable to have barely enough in your Winter. Hence it is essential to have routine checks to assess how adequate your current preparation for Winter is. And Chloe and her team will be happy to help you.
Is there sunshine & rainbows or thunder & lightning in your Season?
It is just as important to understand that even within each season, we will face good weather and bad weather. No one can control the weather, but we can be prepared for it. Sometimes we can foresee small inconveniences, like take an umbrella with us when it looks like it’s going to rain. But it will be impossible to get ready for big natural disasters just before they strike.
Building a house that is earthquake resistant starts from the house’s building materials itself. Building a storm cellar to seek shelter from typhoons/tornados takes time and proper planning. And all this can only be done in good weather.
If we can recognize that being prepared makes all the difference to losing or keeping our lives in times of natural disasters, then we will must also agree that while we cannot prevent personal tragedies from happening, we can most certainly be as well-prepared as possible. So be absolutely certain that we AND our loved ones are well covered for the 3 Ds in life: Disease, Disability, Death.
Just as how preparation against natural disasters must be done by a qualified professional and continued to be routinely reviewed thereafter, so should the preparation for personal tragedies. Consult with Chloe to check through your portfolio again. And if you have never discussed your loved ones’ (parents, siblings, spouse, children) portfolios before, do so now, while the weather is still good.
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