Life teaches you a lot but not all of us are always paying attention. And also, life is too short to be making all the mistakes yourself so you have to learn from other people’s experiences as well, if you want to grow and prosper. So The Week sought the advice of some people we have all come to know and admire on life, love, and money to get us started in our pursuit of happiness.
Jitu Nepal, actor
On Life: I have learnt that success only comes with hard work and you must struggle to overcome the numerous hurdles that come your way and not give up. If you work your way through every obstacle, then no one can stop you from reaching your goal. There might be a point in life when you have many options, but you have to be clear about your goals, stay focused, and have the will to do well in whatever you do. And, at the end of the day, remember your family has played an integral part in shaping you and thus they deserve more love than anyone else.
On Love: I have seen that people tend to do many stupid things in love but I believe you should never change yourself to impress anyone else. Be with someone who loves you for who you are. And then be fiercely loyal to that one person. Shaping your life and your career is in your own hands and don’t let anyone take that away from you. In life, you should never be so blindly in love that you neglect your talent, skills, and career.
On Money: Money is a strange thing, and for many it is more valuable than relationships and other good things in life. That is sad. I believe though money is really important, you must learn to earn your own living and not be jealous because others might seem to have more. Every one is working really hard for theirs. It might not seem important when you are young, but you have to save a little of what you earn for when you can’t do so anymore.
Madan Krishna Shrestha, comedian
On Life: One would do well to remember that their family and health are most precious in life. If you are healthy, you will be happy too. One must also remember to utilize every moment that life gives you, and always be active, alert, and constructive.
On Love: I firmly believe that without love, there is no life. Love is the source of all happiness and satisfaction in life. I also don’t believe in holding on to love because the more you give, the more you get.
On Money: I always tell people to earn their money with dignity and pride. You must never find the easy way out. Earning money through wrong means might make you feel rich for a while but in the long run it will haunt your conscience. Be honest and bold and that will take you further in your career and the money will come along.
Lessons from Southeast Asia
Sneh Rana, makeup artist
On Life: Life is like a book and every day is a new chapter. I have learnt that you should never be afraid to make mistakes because you can always turn a new page for a new beginning. I have also realized that you always need to be ready to explore and enjoy. Express what you feel, love wholeheartedly, and be grateful for everything you have. The joy of living is in the simple things.
On Love: Be stupid in love and be happy but always be with a person who respects you and who you can respect too.
On Money: Life will never be smooth. You will never know what tomorrow will bring so saving is a wise thing to do. Spend but spend wisely, and always keep a little aside for the rainy days.
Dayahang Rai, actor
On Life: Hard work, perseverance, and continuality are the three words that define life for me. Happiness is the key to success and you will only be happy if you love the work you do. I have realized that while luck does play an integral part in shaping your life, you also have all the power you need to change everything and carve a destiny you want.
On Love: Loyalty, for me, is the most important factor to maintain a relationship. When that is in place, the love that comes from it is the most beautiful feeling in the world as it gives you happiness and contentment both. I also think all of us should care about the people around us, and make them smile to spread some cheer and, in turn, love.
On Money: It might sound like a cliché but I believe in working hard to lead the life you want to and not running after money but instead letting it run after you. I have learnt that you have to rejoice in what you have and not be greedy as that will only lead to sorrow.
Mausami Gurung, singer
On Life: Life is never static and it rarely turns out the way you want it to. One must be careful to recognize one’s own talent. Take out time for yourself and try to analyze your own weaknesses and strengths. One must also learn to take the right and timely decisions because the key to success lies in learning to make wise and timely decisions.
On Love: Love has various meanings yet a mother’s love cannot be replaced by anything else. For me, love is like a journey and the only thing that will keep the bond strong is your unmeasured affection. Love truly and enjoy every moment of being with your beloved because life is short and unpredictable.
On Money: Most people say that money is not important. But for me money plays an important role in living a life with dignity. In a country like ours, saving money is very important as there are very few reliable insurance policies. You must secure your own future so you have to learn to value money and save it.
Archana Thapa, writer
On Life: This life is priceless and all of us must learn to value it. Cherish every moment because every breath you take is a blessing. Remember life is too short to do what you hate. Choose a profession that you love, dream big, and work hard to achieve it. Life gives you new opportunities every day, you just have to train you self to grab the opportunity and own the moment.
On Love: Love gives meaning to life and it makes life complete. One must be caring and understanding towards others and that will lead to happiness. Love is something that holds us in our darkest days. It keeps us strong and gives us the strength to rise when everything looks bleak.
On Money: I feel it is important for every woman to earn her own money and be independent. The day when every woman in our country has the capability to stand on her own feet, that day our country will take a new turn.
DJ Raju
On Life: Life for me is refining my skills every day and doing what I love. I believe all of us must devote at least 8-10 hours in a day to our work and that will work to our advantage by making us better at it. Also, it would do us a world of good to learn to be humble and honest. These two virtues are, I believe, the key to a happy life.
On Love: Love holds different meanings for different people but, for me, love has, for the longest time, come in two forms: my wife and work. Love gives you the strength to have faith in yourself and overcome all the challenges that life throws your way. Treasure it.
On Money: I have seen that money is the biggest cause of human sorrow because nobody has ever been satisfied with what they have. You always end up wanting more. Try to learn to be satisfied with what you have. Learn to enjoy life and find joy in little things, without being driven by money. Also, save money because your savings are your biggest earnings.
Mannsi Agrawal, corporate trainer, freelance photographer
On Life: The one thing I'm genuinely making an increased attempt to do in my life is to balance my family, health and relationship together in such a way that my overall sense of fulfillment from life increases multi fold. This, of course, is a practice that each one should exercise. What may help is maintaining a daily journal in all three categories in which one could enlist the progress that one may have made in each sphere, through the day.
On Love: Life will not be worth living without your loved ones around you. I try to spend as much time as I can with my family and friends. Giving love, care, and affection to the people around you is the best way to live your life.
On Money: Life is based on three pillars; health, relationships and wealth. The modern world programs us to believe that wealth, which is simply one of the facets of happiness and fulfillment is, in fact, an end by itself. However, what is the use of all the money in the world if you don't have the right health to enjoy it or if you don't have a loving family to share it with?
