Chinese wisdom for Elderlies

 

If you are past 60, this message is important for you.  If you are still under 50, then work hard and save more.  Then when you past 60 remember this message.  What about those between 50 and 60?  I think you should read and follow this advice as well. 

Sixty and Going Strong

(Translated from the original in Chinese below)

“There are 1000-year old trees in the mountain, but not many 100 year-old people”

At the most, you live until 100 years old (only 1 in 100,000).

If you live until 90, you only have 30 years.

If you live until 80, you only have 20 years.

Because you don’t have many years to live, and you can’t bring along things when you go, you don’t have to be too thrifty. 

Spend the money that should be spent, enjoy what should be enjoyed, donate what you are able to donate, but don’t leave all  to your children or grandchildren, for you don’t want them to become “parasites”.

 

Don’t worry about what will happen after you are gone, because when you return to dust,  you will feel nothing about praises or criticisms.

Don’t worry too much about your children for “children will have their own destiny and find their own way. Don’t be your children’s slave”

Don’t expect too much from your children. Caring children, though caring, would be too busy with their jobs and commitments to render any help.

Uncaring children may fight over your assets even when you are still alive, and wish for your early demise so they can inherit your properties.

 

Your children take for granted that they are rightful heirs to your wealth; but you have no claims to their money.

 

60-year olds like you, don’t trade in your health for wealth anymore;

Because your money may not be able to buy your health.

 

When to stop making money, and how much is enough (hundred thousands, million, ten million)? “Out of thousand hectares of good farm land, 

you can only consume three quarts (of rice) daily; out of a thousand of mansions, you only need eight square meters of space to rest at night”. 

So as long as you have enough food and enough money to spend, that is good enough.

 

So you should live happily. Every family has its own problems. Just do not compare with others for fame and social status and see whose children are doing better, etc. but challenge others for happiness, health and longevity.

 

Don’t worry about things that you can’t change because it doesn’t help and it may spoil your health.

 

You have to create your own well-being and find your own happiness;

As long as you are in good mood, think about happy things, do happy things daily and have fun in doing, then you will pass your time happily every day.

 

One day passes, you will lose one day;

One day passes with happiness, and then you gain one day.

 

In good spirit, sickness will cure; in good spirit, sickness will cure fast; in good spirit; sickness will never come.

With good mood, suitable amount of exercise, always in the sun, variety of foods, reasonable amount of vitamin and mineral intake, hopefully you will live another 20 or 30 years healthy life.

 

 

 

 

A very wise Chinese philosophy of life and weath.