In Zodiac, a novel by Neal Stephenson, there's a passage where he describes the goal in life of a Vietnamese immigrant, and how it differs from the commonplace goal in life of most Westerners. Most Westerners, when asked what they want in life, would answer "happiness". It's kinda what you have been taught to want. But everyone realizes how generic that is. What does it really mean to be happy?
The Vietnamese immigrant had a more specific set of goals: to be healthy, wealthy and wise. I like that. It doesn't tell a complete story, because a fundamental thing in life is to be surrounded by people you love. Maybe that's something that comes with being wise. Anyway, keeping these goals in mind serves for focusing your energy on things you can do something about.
I would then take it a little step further, and say that my goals in life are, for me and the ones I love, to be healthy, wealthy and wise.
Good. There's no better time to get started than now.
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