Men, Show Kindness to Yourselves: A Guide to Self-Care, Financial Independence, Marital Responsibility and Dignity in Old Age
Introduction: The Man Who Takes Care of Everybody
There is a man who wakes up every morning with the needs of other people already occupying his thoughts. Before getting out of bed, he is thinking about school fees, rent, food, electricity bills, transportation, outstanding debts, professional obligations and the next family expense. He goes to work carrying more than his briefcase, tools or work materials. He carries expectations. At the end of the day, he returns home to another set of responsibilities. If money is insufficient, he must find a solution. If something breaks down, he must find a way to repair it. If a child needs something, his wife requires assistance or a relative encounters a difficulty, he is expected to do what he can. He may be tired, worried or uncertain about the future, but he continues because other people are depending on him.
For many men, this is not an occasional experience. It is the ordinary pattern of their lives. Some have spent decades providing for their families, supporting their parents, educating their children, assisting siblings, meeting extended-family obligations and trying to establish themselves professionally. They postpone personal ambitions, deny themselves reasonable comforts and sometimes sacrifice opportunities because the needs of others appear more urgent. They become accustomed to being the dependable person, the one who finds solutions, the one who must not fail and the one whose personal difficulties are expected to remain private. In some cases, they become so identified with their responsibilities that they gradually forget that they have individual needs and aspirations.
There is something admirable about a man who takes his responsibilities seriously. A man should not abandon his family, neglect his children or evade obligations simply because life is demanding. Providing, protecting, nurturing and supporting one’s family are important expressions of maturity. However, responsibility must not become a sentence to permanent self-neglect. A man can be committed to his family without sacrificing his health, financial future, personal development, emotional well-being and happiness. He can love his wife and children without forgetting himself. He can be generous without impoverishing himself and hardworking without making exhaustion the permanent measure of his worth.
There is, however, another reality that deserves attention. The people for whom a man makes sacrifices will eventually develop lives of their own. Children grow up, establish families and pursue careers. Spouses may develop different interests, and marriages may experience difficulties. Friends may relocate, professional opportunities may disappear, and a man’s ability to earn may diminish. Retirement, declining health and old age can expose vulnerabilities that were less visible during his productive years. A man who has spent his entire life taking care of others may suddenly discover that he has insufficient savings, limited companionship and very little provision for himself.
This is why men must learn an important lesson early enough: taking care of yourself is not a betrayal of your family. It is part of responsible living. The objective is not to become selfish, suspicious or emotionally detached. It is to live wisely, preserve your dignity and prepare for the different stages of life. The responsible man must not merely build a good life for everybody else. He must also make reasonable provision to enjoy that life himself.
1. You Are Also Somebody Who Deserves Care
One of the first things a responsible man must understand is that he is not merely a provider or caretaker. He is also a human being with physical, emotional, intellectual, social and financial needs. His needs do not become irrelevant simply because other people depend on him.
Consider the ordinary decisions some men make. A father will replace his child’s shoes immediately but continue wearing his own worn-out footwear. A husband will arrange medical attention for his wife but postpone his own medical examination. A man will purchase household appliances, pay for family entertainment and meet the needs of relatives while regarding a modest personal purchase as unnecessary expenditure. He may even feel uncomfortable taking a few hours away from work because he believes that he should always be doing something productive.
There is a difference between making reasonable sacrifices and developing a permanent habit of excluding oneself from consideration. Your health, clothing, personal comfort, intellectual development and recreation deserve a place in your life. You do not need to justify every reasonable expenditure or personal interest by demonstrating how it will benefit somebody else.
You are part of the family you are working to sustain. Your welfare should therefore be considered when decisions are made about household resources and responsibilities. If the family budget provides for everybody’s essential needs, it should also make reasonable provision for yours. If the family takes time to rest and enjoy itself, you should not be permanently excluded from that opportunity.
The principle is simple: extend to yourself the same consideration you readily extend to the people you love.
2. Take Your Health Seriously Before It Demands Your Attention
Many men are remarkably attentive to the maintenance of their vehicles, houses, electrical appliances and professional equipment, yet surprisingly indifferent to the maintenance of their own bodies. They know when their vehicles require servicing but ignore recurring headaches, unusual fatigue, persistent pain and other symptoms that deserve medical attention. Some postpone medical appointments because they fear the expense. Others believe that seeking medical assistance is unnecessary as long as they can still work.
This attitude is dangerous. The ability to continue working does not necessarily mean that everything is well. A man should not wait until a health problem becomes serious before recognising that his body deserves attention. Preventive healthcare, appropriate medical examinations, adequate sleep, proper nutrition, personal hygiene and regular physical activity should form part of his ordinary lifestyle.
Exercise need not be expensive. Walking, jogging, swimming, cycling and appropriate home exercises can contribute to physical fitness. The important consideration is consistency and choosing activities suitable for one’s age and health condition. Equally important is the willingness to seek professional medical advice when symptoms arise rather than relying on assumptions or self-medication.
A man who neglects his health to preserve every available naira may eventually encounter a medical problem that costs considerably more in money, time and personal suffering. More importantly, he may lose some of the physical capacity that enables him to enjoy his family and personal achievements.
Do not wait until your body forces you to stop working before you begin to appreciate its importance. Your health is not an optional expense. It is one of the foundations of the life you are trying to build.
3. Rest Is a Responsibility, Not a Luxury
There is always something else to do. The bills will not necessarily stop arriving because you are tired. A new responsibility may emerge just when you think you have completed the previous one. Your employer may require additional work, your business may demand attention and your family may have an unexpected need. If you wait until every obligation has been discharged before allowing yourself to rest, you may spend your entire life waiting for a moment that never arrives.
Some men have come to associate rest with laziness. They believe that a responsible man must always be occupied, always available and always prepared to solve another problem. This understanding of responsibility is neither healthy nor sustainable. Rest enables the body and mind to recover. It improves concentration, supports emotional stability and helps a person approach responsibilities with renewed energy.
Learn to create opportunities for genuine relaxation. Sleep adequately. Take occasional breaks. Enjoy a quiet evening. Listen to music, read, take a walk or spend time with people whose company you enjoy. Where circumstances permit, take a holiday or arrange a short period away from the demands of daily life.
You do not have to fall ill before your family understands that you need rest. Nor should you regard every hour not spent earning money as wasted time. A productive life should include periods of recovery and enjoyment.
4. Do Not Abandon Your Personal Identity and Aspirations
Family responsibilities can change the direction of a man’s life. Marriage, parenthood, financial obligations and extended-family expectations may require adjustments to personal ambitions. Some opportunities must be postponed, and certain dreams may have to be reconsidered. However, postponement should not automatically become permanent abandonment.
A man should continue to develop himself intellectually, professionally, socially and financially. He should read, acquire new skills, pursue worthwhile opportunities and maintain interests that give his life meaning. He may have to proceed more slowly than he originally intended, but he should not conclude that personal development is no longer appropriate simply because he has become a husband or father.
It is possible to be a devoted husband and still have professional ambitions. It is possible to be a committed father and still enjoy academic interests, friendships, hobbies and recreational activities. Family life should enrich a man’s existence, not completely erase his individual identity.
This is particularly important as a man approaches retirement. If his entire identity has been built around his employment, professional position or ability to provide, retirement may leave him feeling that he has lost his purpose. Cultivating interests outside work and family obligations provides additional sources of fulfilment throughout life.
Remember that you were somebody before you assumed your present responsibilities. There is no reason why you should cease to be that person simply because others now depend on you.
5. Budget for Yourself and Enjoy the Fruits of Your Labour
Financial prudence is essential, particularly when other people depend on your income. A responsible man must prioritise essential expenses, avoid unnecessary borrowing, save where possible and exercise restraint. Nevertheless, financial discipline should not become an excuse for denying himself every reasonable pleasure.
A man who budgets only for rent, school fees, food, utilities, transportation and other people’s needs may eventually begin to experience his entire existence as an endless financial obligation. He may earn money for decades without developing the habit of enjoying any meaningful part of what he earns.
Where resources permit, include a modest personal allowance in your budget. Replace worn-out clothing when necessary. Purchase useful items that improve your daily life. Enjoy an occasional meal outside the home, pursue an affordable hobby or spend money on an activity that brings you satisfaction.
The important distinction is between reasonable personal enjoyment and reckless spending. Do not incur debt to impress people. Do not compromise essential household expenses to maintain an image of success. But do not deny yourself every reasonable comfort merely because other people also have needs.
A man should enjoy the fruits of his labour while he is still capable of doing so. The objective of working hard cannot be limited to accumulating obligations for other people.
6. Save for Old Age: Your Future Must Not Be Left to Chance
Perhaps one of the greatest financial mistakes a man can make is to spend his entire productive life taking care of everybody else without making adequate provision for his own later years. He educates his children, supports his wife, assists relatives, pays household expenses and meets one financial obligation after another. Yet, when it comes to saving for retirement, he repeatedly postpones the decision.
The excuse is often understandable. There are school fees to pay, rent to settle, family emergencies to address and other pressing demands. However, if retirement savings are always postponed until every other need has been satisfied, the opportunity to prepare adequately may gradually disappear.
A man must understand that his earning capacity is not permanent. There will eventually be a time when he may no longer have the energy, health, employment opportunities or business capacity he currently enjoys. Even where he remains physically active, he may wish to reduce his workload and spend more time enjoying life. He should not reach that stage without a financial plan.
Begin saving early, even if the amounts are modest. Establish a retirement savings target. Understand and maintain appropriate pension arrangements. Make additional contributions where feasible. Build emergency reserves and separate long-term savings from money intended for ordinary household expenditure. Review your progress periodically and increase contributions as your income improves.
For Nigerian employees, this includes understanding the Retirement Savings Account system and checking that pension contributions are actually being remitted. Self-employed persons and eligible individuals outside conventional employment should also investigate the National Pension Commission’s Personal Pension Plan, which provides a voluntary pension arrangement for eligible participants in the informal sector and other qualifying categories. The relevant eligibility and contribution conditions should be confirmed with a licensed Pension Fund Administrator.
The habit of saving matters as much as the initial amount. A modest sum set aside consistently over many years can become a meaningful financial resource. Waiting until one is close to retirement before beginning to save creates unnecessary pressure.
Your children need a future, but you have one too. Do not finance everybody else’s tomorrow while leaving your own old age to chance.
7. Invest in Assets That Can Sustain You
Saving is important, but a man who desires financial independence in old age should also understand the role of investment. Money reserved for emergencies provides security, but long-term financial planning may require productive assets capable of generating income, preserving value or appreciating over time.
Depending on his circumstances, knowledge and risk tolerance, a man may consider diversified investments such as regulated pension arrangements, government securities, money market instruments, mutual funds, suitable property investments and legitimate income-generating businesses. He may also acquire productive assets that can continue to provide financial support beyond his active working years.
For example, a modest property that generates rental income may provide an additional source of support during retirement. A properly managed investment portfolio may supplement pension income. A well-established business may provide returns even when the owner is no longer personally involved in every daily operation. The objective is to build financial resources that are not entirely dependent on the man’s continued physical labour.
However, investment requires knowledge and caution. Do not commit your retirement savings to every attractive opportunity presented to you. Be particularly careful with schemes promising extraordinary or guaranteed returns within unusually short periods. Investigate the institutions involved, understand the risks, diversify where appropriate and seek qualified financial advice when necessary. The Securities and Exchange Commission has specifically warned Nigerians against unregistered online investment schemes and advised the public to verify the registration status of investment operators before committing funds.
It is also important to distinguish between assets that genuinely support financial security and possessions that merely create an appearance of wealth. A man may own an expensive vehicle, maintain an impressive lifestyle and frequently assist others financially while having very little available for retirement. The appearance of prosperity is not the same as financial independence.
Learn to pay yourself first. When income arrives, make appropriate provision for essential expenses, savings and investments before allowing every remaining naira to be absorbed by additional demands.
Your productive years should not merely finance your family’s present. They should also finance your own future.
8. Do Not Make Your Children Your Only Retirement Plan
Children are among the greatest investments of love, hope and responsibility in a parent’s life. A father naturally desires to give his children a good education, a decent upbringing and opportunities that may have been unavailable to him. He works hard so that they can enjoy better circumstances. He makes sacrifices because he wants them to succeed.
However, there is an important distinction between raising children to become responsible adults and expecting them to become the sole financial security of their parents in old age.
Children eventually establish their own households, pursue careers, marry, raise their own children and develop financial obligations. Some relocate to other cities or countries. Others remain close to their parents but are constrained by their own circumstances. Even children who genuinely love their parents may not always have the financial or practical capacity to provide the assistance their parents require.
There are also unfortunate situations in which children become indifferent to the sacrifices their fathers made. They may remember the material provisions they received without appreciating the years of effort, personal deprivation and difficult decisions that made those provisions possible. In some troubled families, prolonged conflict between parents may influence the children’s attitudes towards one parent. A father may discover that children he supported throughout their upbringing have become emotionally distant or disrespectful towards him. In particularly difficult circumstances, a parent may even encourage children to disregard or disrespect the other parent.
These experiences should not lead fathers to raise their children with suspicion or to regard parental love as a commercial transaction. A father should provide, nurture and educate his children because these are responsibilities he has willingly undertaken, not because he expects a guaranteed financial return. Nevertheless, he must exercise wisdom.
Teach your children gratitude, respect, independence and responsibility. Encourage them to appreciate both parents. Build meaningful relationships with them through affection, guidance and presence, not merely financial provision. But do not mortgage your entire future to meet every present demand.
Give your children the best opportunities you reasonably can, while retaining the financial resources necessary for your own later years.
A loving relationship with adult children is a blessing. Financial independence in old age is a form of protection.
9. Protect Your Marriage: Do Not Exchange Lifelong Companionship for Temporary Pleasure
A responsible man must also learn to protect his marriage. One of the mistakes some men make during their productive years is to assume that financial success, professional influence or the ability to provide gives them unlimited freedom to engage in conduct that undermines marital trust.
Some men indulge in extramarital relationships, take their wives for granted, disregard their feelings and assume that their spouses will continue to tolerate such behaviour because they depend on them financially or because the family structure appears too established to be threatened. They may interpret their wives’ silence as acceptance and their continued presence as evidence that nothing serious has happened.
This is a dangerous assumption. A woman may remain in a marriage for several reasons, including the welfare of the children, financial considerations, religious or cultural convictions, family expectations or the desire to preserve the household. Her continued presence does not necessarily mean that she has forgotten the hurt, accepted the behaviour or recovered her trust in her husband.
Sometimes, unresolved marital injuries remain beneath the surface for years. What a man interprets as forgiveness may simply be an unwillingness or inability to confront the situation at that particular time. When circumstances eventually change, the emotional consequences may become more apparent.
A man who once enjoyed financial strength, professional influence and considerable independence may eventually become vulnerable through retirement, declining health or reduced income. At that stage, the companionship and goodwill within his marriage may become particularly important. If years of infidelity, dishonesty and emotional neglect have damaged the foundation of that relationship, he may discover that the consequences of his earlier conduct have not disappeared.
This is not to suggest that every marital disagreement is caused by infidelity or that women necessarily respond to marital injuries in the same way. Some couples rebuild their relationships through honesty, accountability and genuine reconciliation. Others continue together but struggle with unresolved resentment, while some marriages eventually break down. The outcomes differ, but the underlying lesson remains important: marital trust should not be treated carelessly.
Do not use financial provision as an excuse for unfaithfulness. Paying household bills does not compensate for dishonesty, disrespect or emotional neglect. Your wife is not merely a beneficiary of your income. She is a person entitled to dignity, affection, honesty and consideration.
If you desire companionship in old age, begin cultivating it during your productive years. Respect your wife when you are successful, not only when you need her support. Be faithful when you have opportunities to be otherwise. Communicate honestly, nurture affection and address disagreements before they become permanent sources of bitterness.
Of course, marital fidelity and respect are mutual responsibilities. Both spouses must protect the relationship. But the message to the man is straightforward: do not sacrifice a potentially lifelong companionship for temporary gratification and the mistaken belief that your present position makes you untouchable.
The woman you take for granted during your years of strength may be the very person whose companionship you will value most when those years have passed. Protect the relationship while you still have the opportunity to do so.
10. Recognise That Family Circumstances Can Change
Marriage and family life are important sources of companionship, but they are not entirely insulated from changing circumstances. Relationships may experience disagreements, prolonged separations, financial difficulties, emotional distance and, sometimes, permanent breakdown. A man should therefore make every reasonable effort to preserve his family while recognising that he cannot completely control the decisions or future circumstances of other adults.
Consider the traditional practice of omugwo, through which a new mother receives assistance and care from her mother or other female relatives following childbirth. This is an important cultural practice that provides valuable support during a demanding period. A husband should appreciate the assistance and understand that the mother of his child may need time, care and recovery.
However, there are circumstances in which what begins as a temporary arrangement develops into a prolonged separation. Sometimes, underlying marital disagreements, unresolved grievances or other personal decisions contribute to the situation. In particularly difficult cases, a woman may leave the marital home under the arrangement of omugwo and subsequently fail to return, leaving the husband to confront an unexpected separation.
Such situations should not be generalised to all women, mothers or omugwo arrangements. Nor should legitimate postpartum support be viewed with suspicion. The concern is the possibility that a temporary family arrangement may become an indefinite separation without meaningful communication or resolution.
Where this happens, the husband may experience loneliness, emotional distress, additional financial responsibilities and uncertainty about the future of the marriage. The situation can become particularly difficult when children are involved and the man is expected to continue meeting financial obligations while living apart from his family.
The lesson is not that a man should approach marriage with distrust. Rather, he should cultivate open communication, mutual respect, emotional maturity and reasonable financial independence. He should also recognise that the preservation of a marriage requires the willing participation of both spouses.
Do not abandon your family in anticipation of possible difficulties. Equally, do not abandon your own life, identity and financial security because you assume that family circumstances can never change.
11. Prepare for Loneliness and the Possibility of Growing Old Alone
One of the less discussed aspects of ageing is loneliness. During their productive years, many men are surrounded by people who need something from them. Their homes are active, their professional lives are demanding and their phones frequently ring with requests for assistance. Their presence is sought because they provide money, advice, protection, opportunities or solutions to problems.
But circumstances can change. Children may leave home. Friends may relocate or pass away. Professional relationships may diminish after retirement. A marriage may experience difficulties, or a man may find himself living alone following separation or bereavement. The home that was once full of activity may become unusually quiet.
This transition can be particularly difficult for a man whose entire identity has been built around providing for others. When his earning capacity declines, he may feel that his importance within the family has also diminished. When he can no longer provide the financial assistance he previously offered, some relationships may become less active. He may discover that people who regularly sought his help are not always available when he needs companionship himself.
This is why a man should not postpone the development of friendships and personal interests until retirement. Maintain meaningful relationships outside your immediate household. Participate in community activities. Pursue intellectual interests, hobbies and recreational activities. Remain socially connected and cultivate relationships based on mutual affection and respect rather than financial usefulness.
Learn to enjoy your own company without withdrawing from society. Develop a life that remains meaningful even when your professional responsibilities have ended or your children have established their own households.
Marriage and family life should provide companionship, but a man’s entire capacity for happiness should not depend on circumstances that he cannot completely control.
12. Set Boundaries: You Cannot Solve Everybody’s Problems
A dependable man often attracts requests for assistance. Relatives may seek financial support, friends may request loans, colleagues may expect favours and people who know his generosity may assume that he will always find a way to help. Sometimes, his reputation for reliability becomes an invitation for others to transfer their responsibilities to him.
Generosity is admirable, but it must be exercised with judgment. A man who agrees to every financial request may eventually compromise his household’s essential needs, savings and retirement plans. He may borrow money to assist somebody else, incur unnecessary obligations or sacrifice opportunities because he feels unable to disappoint people.
Learn to distinguish between genuine emergencies, reasonable requests and expectations that are beyond your capacity. Consider your financial position before making commitments. It is acceptable to explain that you cannot afford something at a particular time. It is acceptable to decline an obligation when accepting it would place an unreasonable burden on you.
Where possible, offer advice, information or practical assistance instead of money. Encourage other adults to take responsibility for their own circumstances.
You do not need to be hostile or unkind to establish boundaries. You simply need to understand that your resources are limited and that you have obligations towards yourself and your immediate household.
A man who never learns to say no may eventually discover that he has spent resources intended for his own future meeting obligations that should never have rested entirely upon him.
13. Continue to Build Friendships and Enjoy Life
Some men gradually withdraw from friendships after marriage or the assumption of significant family responsibilities. Their social lives become limited to professional contacts, family interactions and engagements connected with work. Although changing responsibilities naturally affect social relationships, complete isolation is not necessarily healthy.
Friendships provide companionship, encouragement, perspective and opportunities for recreation. They allow men to have conversations that are not always about money, work, household problems or family obligations.
Maintain relationships that are healthy and mutually respectful. Visit people whose company you enjoy. Make time for occasional social engagements. Reconnect with old friends where appropriate. Participate in activities that promote healthy social interaction.
This does not mean neglecting family commitments or maintaining irresponsible associations. It means recognising that a healthy social life is one of the components of a balanced existence.
Enjoy good food occasionally. Watch a film. Listen to music. Read. Travel when circumstances permit. Celebrate your achievements, including modest ones. Do not become so preoccupied with building a good life for your family that you forget to experience that life yourself.
14. Share Responsibility and Do Not Make Yourself Indispensable to Everything
Some men operate under the assumption that everything will collapse if they are unavailable. They feel compelled to supervise every activity, solve every problem and personally attend to every responsibility. Their families may also become accustomed to relying on them for almost everything, even where other adults could reasonably share the burden.
This arrangement can become exhausting for the man and unhelpful for the family. A sustainable household should not depend entirely on one person’s constant availability.
Encourage shared responsibility. Teach children age-appropriate independence. Involve your spouse in household decisions. Delegate where possible. Plan for foreseeable expenses rather than leaving every difficulty to be handled at the last minute.
A responsible man should build a family that can function with his support, not one that can function only through his perpetual exhaustion.
This is not an abandonment of leadership or responsibility. It is an understanding that a family benefits when its members contribute according to their abilities and circumstances.
15. Learn to Appreciate Yourself Before You Become Vulnerable
There is a tendency for people to appreciate certain contributions only when those contributions are no longer available. A father may spend thirty years ensuring that his children receive an education, enjoy a decent standard of living and have opportunities to succeed. Yet, as those children become independent, they may become occupied with their own lives and gradually lose sight of the sacrifices that made their advancement possible.
Similarly, a man may spend years supporting his household, maintaining family relationships and providing financial assistance to relatives. During those years, his contributions may be regarded as ordinary expectations. When he eventually needs assistance, however, he may discover that the attention he receives is not always proportionate to what he previously gave.
This is not an argument for keeping records of every sacrifice or demanding repayment for parental responsibilities. It is an acknowledgement that human relationships do not always produce the gratitude, loyalty or companionship one expects. People have their own limitations, priorities and circumstances. Sometimes, relationships change in ways that are painful.
A man should therefore avoid measuring his personal worth exclusively by the appreciation he receives from others. He should not spend his entire life seeking recognition for his sacrifices. Equally, he should not neglect the practical arrangements necessary to protect himself simply because he hopes that everyone will remember what he has done.
Develop self-respect. Preserve your independence. Maintain your dignity. Make decisions that will allow you to live reasonably well even when the assistance you expected is unavailable.
Conclusion: You Deserve to Enjoy the Life You Are Working So Hard to Build
Dear men, show yourselves some kindness.
Your family deserves your commitment, your protection, your patience and your best efforts. But your life is important too. You deserve to be healthy enough to enjoy your family, financially secure enough to face retirement, emotionally fulfilled enough to maintain meaningful relationships and sufficiently independent to preserve your dignity as you grow older.
Do not confuse self-neglect with sacrifice. Do not make exhaustion the measure of your worth. Do not spend your most productive years financing everybody else’s aspirations while making no provision for your own future. Do not assume that your children will always be available, that your marriage will never change or that your ability to earn will continue indefinitely.
Save. Invest. Build assets. Protect your pension. Maintain emergency reserves. Take care of your health. Be faithful to your spouse. Nurture your marriage. Develop friendships. Pursue your ambitions. Learn to say no when necessary. Share responsibilities with other members of your family. Enjoy the fruits of your labour without becoming financially reckless.
Your children deserve opportunities, but you deserve a dignified old age. Your wife deserves honesty, affection and respect, and you deserve a marriage in which companionship is mutual. Your relatives may need assistance, but their needs should not automatically take precedence over every provision you must make for your future.
Do not spend your younger years damaging the relationships you may later need for companionship. Do not spend your middle years neglecting your retirement savings. Do not wait until old age to discover that you have no meaningful interests outside work and family obligations.
Above all, understand that your existence is not limited to what you can provide for other people. You are more than your income, professional position, property, responsibilities and sacrifices. You are a human being who deserves consideration, affection, rest, fulfilment and happiness.
There is nothing selfish about preparing for old age. There is nothing dishonourable about having personal savings and investments. There is nothing irresponsible about taking a holiday, buying something useful for yourself or pursuing an interest that makes you happy. Nor is there anything weak about admitting that you need assistance, companionship or rest.
Love your family, but do not abandon yourself. Provide for your children, but do not leave your old age to their discretion. Love your wife, remain faithful and protect the companionship you are building together. Help your relatives, but do not sacrifice your financial security to satisfy every demand.
You are not merely preparing your children to live after you. You are also preparing yourself to live when you are no longer able to work as you once did.
The responsible man must live too. And he must prepare to live well, with dignity, financial independence, meaningful relationships and a measure of happiness, even when the years of active provision have passed.
Gatekeepers News is not liable for opinions expressed in this article; they’re strictly the writer’s.
