Investing in the Ultimate Guidebook: My Third Act Bible Journey
I’m on my second attempt to read the entire bible. The first one happened back in the 1990s when I decided to be a full-time homemaker and I thought, “Hmm… maybe I can squeeze in some time so that after I don’t know how long, I’ll be able to read the entire bible.” But I didn’t even get past Genesis. The font in my bible was too small (yes, I can’t pinch it to enlarge), it became boring, etc. But what I was able to sustain for decades now is my daily bible reflections done mostly in our bathroom. And yes, that’s why I designed our bathroom to be really beautiful, hahaha! For my daily bible reflections, I used any of the following: Didache by Feast Publishing (Oh, I’m a contributor to this, so a couple of times a year, you’d see my bible reflections pop out there), Our Daily Bread by RBC Ministries, and Sacred Space by JesCom PH.
My daughter-in-law, Sam Sy Fausto, inspired me to embark on this journey. No, she did not ask me to do it but when I learned that she had read the entire bible in her twenties, I was like, “Wow! If a millennial can do it, so can I!” Nah, that’s not actually the reason but I think she gave me a good reminder that everything depends on how much one really wants something. And at my age, and after reading so many books, I am again reminded that I really want to do it, and what better way to enrich my Third Act (a borrowed term from Jane Fonda which I now use to refer to this chapter in my life that started when I turned 60) than to have this not just as a bucket list item but even as the anchor on how I will intentionally live the rest of my life.
And so, I started this journey on June 3, 2026.
Now being aware of my own behavioral biases, my friction costs or psychological barriers, I had to include my Emotional Emong in designing this journey. I already know the small font and the boring parts. I also know that I really like to do it on a daily basis instead of x number of times a week because it is easier for me sustain it this way. I’ve also tried some bible apps in the past that didn’t last. All these and some of my own quirks had to be included in the design. I also like making use of whatever tools I have and know how to use. So, I turned to AI!
Yes, I did. It was sort of coming up with my own app. I included my history, intention, what worked, what didn’t, what I enjoy, what I don’t enjoy, my timeline, etc. and so now, I am on my nth day of bible reading, and I’m totally enjoying it!
Just like in investing, we have to think about the tiny, seemingly insignificant obstacles that stop us from doing what is good for us. Is it the long application forms, the complicated banking app, the confusing spreadsheet, the scary and volatile stock market, the elusive Philippine economic growth, the so very easy one-click check out combined with the constant sale prompts? Or is it the fact that you need to send your younger siblings to school, or send money to your parents because at age 50 they decided to stop working because you’re now an OFW earning dollars?
Perhaps you are trapped in the Sandwich Generation, squeezed tightly between paying for your children’s tuition and funding your aging parents’ medical bills, leaving absolutely nothing left for your own retirement fund. Or maybe it’s the quiet creep of lifestyle inflation where every single salary increase is instantly swallowed by a gadget upgrade, more expensive hobby, or another vacation you felt “dasurve ko naman to!” consequently, keeping your savings rate perpetually at zero.
The reality is we can have all the reasons in the world to not start doing the things that matter to us. But we cannot press pause on our life. The power of compounding cannot wait for us to settle all our issues. The clock won’t stop ticking, the days and years will keep moving forward whether we like it or not.
We just have to start somewhere. Use whatever tools and resources we can and enjoy the process. And mind you, even if we don’t get the exact outcome we want (remember there is always risk in investing), we are a lot better off starting something now than remaining stuck at the starting line.
How about you? What long-term goals have you been putting off because of your own friction costs? Whether it’s starting your retirement nest egg, writing a book, marrying your loved one, having a child, now is the time to really think about it. Are your reasons for delaying real obstacles that can be overcome? Or are they just excuses to procrastinate? Once you figure this part, acknowledge your Emotional Emong and design a system that works with your quirks and start now!
ANNOUNCEMENT
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This article is also published in Philstar.com
