Today I was having a talk with my good friend and co-writer of this site about my future. He brought up a subject which I have recently had deep thought about (as I do with many subjects unfortunately), and that was about making investments. Investment, which to me, is the simple the act of investing. The problem is there is a misconception of what that actually entails.


I would like to start with a quote from the definition of the word Investment from Dictionary.com’s. The first definition is ‘the investing of money or capital in order to gain profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value’. I like to believe that the definition I chose to show you is only a small aspect of what an investment really is.
There are certain thought patterns that have been beaten into us over the years, and one is about the term investment. You parents look at you and say “you have to invest if you want to retire and be comfortable. Don’t make the same mistakes we made” and with that people have this sort of misunderstandings of what true meaning of investment is. The only mistake your parents ever made was that they never understood what investment is!
Are you scratching your head wondering what investment really is then, if it isn’t about ‘the investing of money or capital in order to gain profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value’? I have already answered that question! It is simply the act of investing. When you sit down and listen to some music, that is an act in investment. When you go for a walk that is also an act of investment. It is an act of investing in yourself.
Why would you invest in yourself? Simply because you are the most important thing in your world. Matter of fact, if you don’t exist neither does your world, so everything you have is gone. It may be a selfish outlook, but investing in things that don’t actually improve you in a way, is just a waste. Why be miserable your whole life so that when you retire you can travel the world? Wouldn’t you much prefer to travel now?
Remember this doesn’t mean go out and buy a Xbox 360 and every single game released for it instead of putting money aside for a rainy day, but it does mean to have some balance. Also remember all the almost free investments you can make in yourself. Go for a walk to invest in your health. Read a book to invest in your thoughts. Hang out with friends to invest in your happiness (unless your friends are pricks).
Go out and enjoy the present existence of your life, because all you really have is right now. Keep balance for a rainy day if you are worried, but don’t ignore the happiness, health and many other investments you should be making.

-Nugget