Page 17 - january 2022
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addition to saving time, I got the
benefit of a little exercise from
doing two flights of stairs twice
per day—in the morning and
returning from lunch.
Now that I am retired, I no
longer have stairs to climb,
but I discovered Tai Chi.
Originally, I was taking a class one night per
week until the pandemic put an end to that. A experiment? Children were given the choice of
small group of us started meeting in a park where one marshmallow immediately, or two if they
we could wear our masks and maintain proper waited a certain amount of time. Those who
social distancing. We started out meeting one waited were found to be more successful later
morning per week, then two, and now three— in life, because they could think ahead and had
every Monday, Wednesday and Friday— rain or better impulse control. When my company
shine. We have been doing this since October, first offered a 401(k) plan, I set up an automatic
2020, even when the temperature was down in deduction to contribute each paycheck, and I am
the 20s last winter. People driving by probably so glad I did that. Once in place, I didn’t have to
thought we were crazy out there all bundled think about it, and now enjoy a fairly comfortable
up in our scarfs, hats and mittens, but we were retirement. Setting aside even a modest amount
having fun. I have made some great friends and can do amazing things over many years of
get a little exercise in the process. In this case, market growth and compound interest.
fun is more of a motivator than easy, because it Bottom line, instead of torturing yourself
does require some effort to get there each time. with New Years resolutions that will often lead
Financial goals definitely need to be easy, to disappointment, find a way to incorporate
because they usually aren’t fun. They typically your desired behaviors into everyday life. Easy
require some sacrifice, at least in the short term. and fun are more sustainable and much better
Have you heard of the famous “marshmallow” motivators than guilt!
VOICES! | JANUARY 2022 17
