Do you REALLY crave to be rich?

People talk about winning the lottery as if it were the Holy Grail everyone is after.

And, sure, having a lot of money can enhance your life in myriad ways. You can pay off your house and buy a much bigger one, purchase a luxurious car, do away with your college loan debt, buy expensive clothes and jewelry with no restraint, etc.

Society tells us this is the ideal life. But is it really the kind of life we ALL yearn for?

Not me.

Instead, I just want to be comfortable financially, and that's well within everyone's reach by (1) saving up (2) scouring the internet and newspapers for great deals (3) staying within or below one's budget.

I can only surmise that people who are rich feel immense pressure to display with their wealth. (Not to mention they likely get asked for money left and right by friends and relatives.)

The issue is that I'm the farthest thing from a materialistic person, so if I found myself thrust into that situation, I would not feel compelled to rush to the store for, say, a new Maserati.

In fact, it'd be difficult for me to part with my cheaper stuff -- not because I'm stingy, but because I don't care to own things that are ridiculously expensive. I don't like drawing attention to myself that way.

I suppose I think more along the lines of billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who still lives in the Omaha, Nebraska home he bought in 1958 for $31,500.

If I had that kind of money, I would want to put it to better use. For starters, I would donate a sizeable chunk to charitable organizations like St. Jude's Children's Hospital and The Humane Society.

I think a rich life isn't defined by the money you have, but the experiences you share with your loved ones. And, yes, money can help finance some of those experiences if you're talking vacations around the world.

Still, a great experience can be something as simple as learning new things with your partner at the local museum or stargazing at night with friends.

In my view, money can make your life easier, but it doesn't ensure permanent happiness. If that were the case, people would never go broke or bankrupt. Many celebrities in Hollywood, for example, suffer from depression despite having a net worth of millions.

Never let society lead you to think that you need to lead a lavish lifestyle in order to be happy and respected by your peers.

At the end of the day, what you'll mull over on your deathbed is not the jewelry you bought or the shiny car parked on your driveway. You'll think about the people -- and the experiences -- that made your life worth living.

Comments

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n...

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it? After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

This will spell the end of your relationship

When asked to think about the most common culprits for a relationship's going south, most people will point to cheating, complacency, and taking one's partner for granted. While these are all valid -- and documented in various posts on this blog -- there are certain habits on the part of partners that may not kill the relationship right away, but cause it to erode more gradually. Among the most egregious of these is expecting your significant other to be perfect. They pick at your follies any chance they get. Nothing you do is ever good enough. In fact, you will never measure up to an ex, neighbor, or accomplished co-worker. Perhaps this all sounds a bit familiar. When you feel as though you're constantly being put under the microscope, it can inflict lasting damage on the relationship and your self-esteem. You're walking on eggshells all the time, praying you don't say or do something that's going to trigger your partner. This is no way to live, let alone ca...

How To Understand People

Search This Blog