Rich Life Habits Interview – 7
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This is the seventh interview in the Rich Life Habits interview series where we ask people some of their most successful habits and some lessons learned along the way. You can check out previous interviews here.
If you’d like to share your story with the Rich Life Habits community, please reach out here.
This interview was conducted in September.
Questions are in bolded italics and the answers are right below the questions.
Background
How old are you? Do you have a spouse/partner? Do you have any children?
I am 60 years old, married with 2 children.
What part of the country do you live in? (ex. Suburbs of mid-Atlantic city, rural mid-western town, downtown west-coast city)
I live in the downtown suburbs of MD.
How would you define “a rich life”? What does “living a rich life” mean to you? Can you provide any examples of how your definition evolved to what it is today?
My definition has evolved to more emphasis on living a balanced life filled with many components to make it complete. A rich life is feeling fulfillment and contentment in basic human needs. Love, nurture, growth, support, and praise need to be present both physically and emotionally within the relationship with yourself and others.
What are some daily/monthly/yearly habits that have helped motivate you to reach your goals and how have they produced results for you?
My commitment to listen and communicate well regularly with a touch-base method with those MVPs in my life has helped provide balance.
Professional – Business or Career part of life, aka your job
What are some habits that have helped you in your career/professional life? Can you provide some stories/examples of the habits?
There are a group of work supporters and a group of family home supporters that both lend to a rich life. There is a time and place for these two worlds to meet, it pays off and makes both worlds better for it. On another note, there is a time and place for opening and closing the workday at home in order to have family time.
What are some habits that you wish you didn’t have during your career/professional life? Can you provide some stories/examples of the habits?
Commuting for long periods of time on a daily basis was draining. I should’ve made better use of that time by planning to stay put or accomplish tasks nearby while waiting to pick up an hour later.
How much time do you devote to your career/profession (work)? What is your work-life balance like?
I am retired 😉
Family/Friends:
Those people you love unconditionally even if they drive you crazy // Like-minded people you choose to spend time with
How have you been able to keep healthy and long-lasting family & friend relationships?
Don’t let too much time go by without nurturing with a visit or call.
Why have some of your family & friend relationships not lasted?
We either outgrew or became irrelevant for that moment and picked up again at a later date or became a sweet memory of a shorter chapter in one another’s lives.
What habits (actions done repeatedly) have you used to keep family & friend relationships going?
The telephone with actual live conversations has kept my relationships alive!
Physical – The body
At what point in your life were you the most physically fit? Why?
Any time that I made it a priority.
What was your schedule/life like during that time period?
Sometimes busy, sometimes slow.
What habits did you use during that time period?
Incorporated fitness into my daily plan.
Mental – Intellectual and cognitive parts of the brain
Are you able to stimulate your mind as much as you would like? Why or Why not?
I could do better. I let laziness win too often.
What habits have helped/hurt you from being able to achieve your intellectual goals? Can you reflect on why you did these habits?
I need to read more and allow my days to get sidetracked.
Spiritual – The soul of a person
How do you spend the time when you are doing things for yourself? How does each of these make you feel afterward?
I know that I need to let out creative energy every day. This can take place in a variety of ways.
What is your preferred practice to clear your mind?
Sudoku, baths, peaceful music, and imagery in the evening.
Financial – The monetary situation
What habits do you use to keep your budget under control? What software/tools do you use if any?
I consider wants and needs.
How have you been able to increase your net worth? By earning/saving/investing more? How? Please provide examples.
I dote on the little things in my control that can add up like buying more affordable produce in season or flying economy and minimizing higher risk investments to a handful.
Conclusion
What is one piece of advice you’d give yourself when you were 18 years old?
Comparison sucks the joy out of life. Own your journey as your path is authentically yours.
Favorite books and why?
Dr. Suess, Oh the Places You’ll Go! It has staying power….
I love the statement that “comparison sucks the joy out of life”…it is so true yet so difficult! All it requires is a shift in mindset, but this is something I struggle with daily – how to pave my own path and be happy about where I am without comparing myself to others. I have found that spending less time on social media helps mitigate this!