Don't count the days. Make the days count
Day #2 of my 100 days of writing
Yesterday I met with my father in law. He is always good for a pithy saying.
He has this taped on his bookcase:
"Rule#1: Always save money
Rule#2: Always remember rule #1"
This embodies most of Indian middle class upbringing. Do well in school. Get a job; be a good employee. Save up. Your siblings will need a leg up. So save up. You need to get married, have kids, and get them stably set up. So save up. You never know what could happen. Save up. Because the system was always out to get you in unforeseen ways. So save up. However this constant savings mentality gets in the way of enjoying life, taking some risks, and gives you a false sense of security that you are well cushioned.
I read /saw recently that the Indian folks (/males?) tend to get fat in their abdomens than the hips/butts like other races/ethnicities . Apparently it is because of many famines in our country's past -- the epigenetics (#tobefactchecked) changed. We got an uncanny ability to quickly absorb fat in our guts as visceral fat during good times. We are (hopefully) past the famines of yore. This belly fat does nothing for us. Despite workouts and aerobics this midsection refuses to thin out.
Our bodies are maladjusted for the modern world. So is this saying - it may have been right at some point in the past. It may even become relevant at some point in the future. At the present moment, it is counter productive. It does nothing for entrepreneurs nor for asset builders.
My f-i-l had a better saying yesterday.
"Do not count the days.
Make the days count"
Carpe Diem. YOLO. FOMO.