What’s a skill you consider basic, that most people don’t actually know how to do?
Empathy and consideration. You can’t really teach these things to someone. Some people naturally have the ability to put themselves in another person’s place, while others simply don’t. Empathy is being able to see yourself in someone else’s situation before judging them. Consideration is understanding that your words and actions can affect someone, even when you don’t intend them to. I think both come from being able to look beyond yourself and remember that everyone is carrying something you may not see. At the end of the day, it’s simply about being human enough to think, “What if that were me?”
What are your thoughts on the concept of living a very long life?
There is a lot of emphasis on living a very long life, but for me, longevity alone has never felt like the goal. What truly matters is the quality of life we live—being healthy, self-reliant, and mentally present.
As we age, health naturally begins to decline. After 50, many people face issues like heart disease, cholesterol problems, diabetes, weaker bones, and reduced physical strength. The idea of living very long while being completely dependent on others is frightening. Watching extremely old people struggle without independence is deeply heartbreaking.
That’s why I believe in prioritizing living well over simply living longer. Being able to take care of yourself, make your own decisions, and live with dignity matters far more than adding extra years to life.
I also believe it’s important to never compromise on what you want and don’t want in your life. You choose your values, your priorities, the people you allow close to you, and the life you build. Those choices shape the quality of your life more than anything else.
Having the right life partner—someone you can rely on and take responsibility for in return—becomes essential as life progresses. And just as important is ensuring your children’s lives are well settled. No one will ever love, protect, or prioritize them the way a truly loving parent does.
In the end, a meaningful life isn’t measured by how long we live, but by how consciously we choose to live—healthy, independent, and at peace with our choices.
