Yesterday marked the end of 2009Q2, which means I am spending an hour to reflect on how I did personally and financially this quarter.
Personally, I have continued to read extensively, and came across excellent works such as "The Strenuous Life" by Theodore Roosevelt. I have also started to follow a plan that Benjamin Franklin developed in 1726. It is a plan based on 13 virtues (temperance, resolution, moderation, industry, to same several) to keep one's conduct in check.
I have followed his plan for several weeks and believe it brought positive changes in me.
I believe the plan is worth exploring and would recommend it to everyone. Here is a Google spreadsheet I created to follow the plan with.
Financially, although budgeted in advance, the biggest expense is my recent trip to Vienna and Prague. I took a close look at life in Central/Eastern Europe*, and took the time to figure out the how's & why's of their architecture, their food, and their lives.
This trip has widened my vision and changed my perspectives. I toured Prague with younger budget travelers on their summer Around-the-World trips. Dressed in worn-down clothing, who sleeps in hostels by night and can afford only one meal by day, they genuinely cared about learning foreign history and culture. To my surprise, although they are from the US and other parts of Europe, they are a nonjudgmental crowd who cares little about appearance and luxuries, unlike most spoiled youths nowadays. I was awe-struck.
It is a shame that buying Swarovski crystals and Zara shirts (for others) was once part of my trip.
Interestingly enough, after this 10-day trip, New York now "takes a little getting used to".
To wrap up, this has been a positive quarter (i.e. hasn't gone into waste), and I look forward to 2009Q3 despite the many uncertainties ahead.
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* This is debatable and (I believe) is largely based on politics. For instance, Lebanon was once part of the Mediterranean. What about Turkey?
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