One summer, an ant was busy gathering food for the winter. He worked hard all day long, carrying grains of wheat and other food into his nest. A grasshopper saw the ant working and asked him why he was working so hard. The ant told the grasshopper that he was preparing for the winter, when there would be no food. The grasshopper laughed and said that he would not worry about the winter, because he would just sing and dance all summer long.

The winter came, and the ant was warm and well-fed, while the grasshopper was cold and hungry. The grasshopper begged the ant for food, but the ant refused, saying that the grasshopper should have worked hard during the summer instead of singing and dancing. The grasshopper learned his lesson, and he never again wasted his time during the summer.

The moral of this Aesop’s fable is that it is important to work hard and plan for the future, or you may end up suffering the consequences. The grasshopper might symbolize laziness and irresponsibility, while the ant is a symbol of study, planning and hard work.

The story also teaches us that we should not take a passive “wait and see” look approach to the future. We should be planful and put in the work to prepare for the days (and years) ahead.

Plan your financial future and invest today. Stay active, eat healthy, get regular check-ups and take care of your mental health. Make time for family and friends. Expand your social circle professionally and personally…and travel! Explore interests and hobbies that you enjoy.

Be an ant!