A friend from my book club shared a conversation she had with her sister:

"On Friday night, my sister suddenly told me that she regretted not studying harder when she was younger. Now, she earns less than I do, and she feels a bit disheartened. I told her, 'There’s no end to comparing yourself with others. What really matters is knowing how to invest.' I even shared a story with her about how investment in XXX had doubled in value."

"She has a daughter now and has started to worry about her own retirement. In truth, it’s not that she loves studying—she's just anxious about the future. I encouraged her to start investing in index funds regularly and consistently. After all, she has this amazing ability: once she buys something, she truly forgets about it. That’s actually one of the best mindsets an investor can have—the philosophy of ‘not checking your account.’ I admire this about her, and I’m thinking about taking her to a personal finance class."

It's true—once you have kids, achieving financial freedom becomes much harder. But at the same time, you gain one of life’s most valuable experiences. Unfortunately, many people waste this stage without seizing the opportunity to learn and grow.

If your marriage is happy, then it’s even more important to take care of your health—because that’s how you build an unshakable foundation in life.

She sounds like someone who doesn't overthink things. Once you’ve built a solid philosophy of life and investment, you’ve basically completed 80% of the journey.

Marriage and health are the foundation of everything. If you get those two right, you’ll avoid a lot of future regrets. And if you’re still dissatisfied with your life, these are the two areas you should prioritize.

Because a fulfilling marriage and good physical and mental health only lack one more piece: the mindset of a wealthy person. But if your marriage is broken and your body and mind are in poor shape, then no amount of money can bring real happiness—in fact, it may only lead to even more suffering.

Sun Tzu once said:

"Those skilled in warfare first ensure their own invincibility, then wait for the enemy’s vulnerability."