(Importance of Money management amongst the youth)
We have heard for ‘Aaji (Nani) cha Batwa’ or ‘Dadima ke Nuske’ about easy home remedies for routine health issues like common cold, cough etc.
I had a firsthand experience about modern day Aaji (Nani)/ Nadi giving money management tips to my son and his squad.
Board exams were cancelled, and the children breathed a sigh of relief after one full year of uncertainty and apprehension. The teenage gang was invited home for an after-exam party to relieve all the stress about uncertainty surrounding the exams.
After devouring all the menu made to specific requests, the mandali sat down to talk about their future endeavors. Aaji (Nani) (Nani) was around and took charge of the conversation. After the ice breaking questions about the choice of streams for further studies, what Aaji (Nani) told them was an eye opener to me and the gang alike.
Aaji (Nani) started by telling them about the habits they need to inculcate to enjoy their wealth creation and money-making journey.
The children were bewildered when they heard Aaji (Nani) talking about money. The image of an old lady keeping money in her batwa or under her clothes (money kept in food containers in the kitchen was way beyond their league) was shattered.
Aaji (Nani) started by telling them, that when they decide about their future streams of education, they should not decide it based on how much money a particular profession command. Rather, they should focus on what their likings are and acquire knowledge in that field. Money will be a byproduct of what they will passionately do.
The next thing that she told them was a very well-known proverb, ‘Cut your coat according to your cloth’, ‘आंथरुण पाहू न पाय पसरावे’.
The children were discussing about the latest gadgets that they were going to ask their parents to buy. They were comparing their smartphones to check whose had the latest one. Iphones, Samsungs, ear pods etc. were hot on the demand list. Aaji (Nani) told them not to get carried away by new launches of gadgets and by the expensive items that people around possess. These possessions are not an indicator of one’s riches. How much wealth one creates rather depends upon how much money one saves and wisely invests. Richness is not in buying things to show off but in enjoying things one buys to the fullest.
She further advised them to not ignore their health. As the saying goes,’ Health is Wealth’. “Don’t just use it in your essays”, she asserted, “take it seriously and work hard on maintaining your health. All the money in the world will not make you happy, if your body and mind are not at peace”.
Last but not the least, she gave them a very important lesson of prioritization. She narrated a speech given by Brian Dyson, former CEO of Coca Cola. His speech went on these lines.
Imagine life to be a game of five balls. One of them is made of rubber and the
other four of glass.
Let the five balls be: Work, family, health, friends and your inner being (soul).
No sooner you start working, you will understand that your work is like the rubber ball. Whenever there is a setback, like the rubber ball, you will bounce back again.
For the remaining four glass balls, if any of them fall, they will not be the same again. They will either be cut, chipped, broken, bruised etc. but not the same again. So, it is essential, that we learn to give precedence to things that matter. Work matters, work one must in allsincerity during set working hours. After that, taking time out for family, friends and health is equally important. Be truthful to yourself, as no one can judge you as you can judge yourself.
Life is not a race, but a journey to be enjoyed at every step. Yesterday is past, tomorrow is unknown and today is a gift; that is why we call it ‘Present’.
There was pin drop silence in the room and the children were introduced to a completely new outlook in life. They promised Aaji (Nani) that her words will never be forgotten. The children unanimously agreed that they were taught different subjects in school. They will be taught to excel in a particular field in college life. All aimed at helping them earn more money. All had this same question, why weren’t they taught how to live life to the fullest, happily? After all they were not money minting machines.
Hearing this discourse made me sit up and rethink my priorities all over again. In the mundaneness of life, one tends to forget what matters. Money yes, is important but it is not what life is all about.
If I have all the money in the world, but no family, friends, health and time to enjoy it, of what use is the money to me? Sometimes one needs such eyeopening sessions to get back on track and make corrections.