We can talk about millions or billions in net worth, or whatever else turns you on, as a measure of being Rich. The big question, really, is…
“Are you happy?”
Because if you are not happy, the millions and billions can’t and won’t make you happy!!!
Look at this way…
It is the spring of 2020 and the stock market has plunged 30% wiping out over $10 trillion in U.S. wealth, a national emergency has been declared over coronavirus pandemic, school and businesses are closed indefinitely, short term unemployment is expected to go over 20%… and FED is considering a Trillion dollar bailout amid coronavirus meltdown. The good thing is, it’s not the end of the world. The Sun will rise tomorrow, clean water to drink and fresh air to breathe will be plentiful… and with a roof over our head and food in our belly, we all should pray and count our blessings. Having a family or friends to love, a roof over our heads, food on the table, a half or quarter tank of gas, and clean clothes to dress our children should be considered the “New Rich”.
If you have enough money to keep all of your bills paid, and are lucky enough to be healthy enough to never be in medical debt, and have a house over your head, with a comfortable lifestyle, then count yourself lucky! No matter how rich or how poor you may be there is always somebody out there worse off than you.
My thoughts are as long as you have your health, a roof over your head, food in your belly and a vehicle to drive you are very rich. About half of the people on this earth are living on under 1.25$ per day. Most people who live in poverty in the United States have cars, telephones, the Internet, cable television and plenty of food.
No matter how bad you think you have it, there are people out there in this world that would love to have your problems.
Bill Gate’s mother Mary died of cancer at a young age of 64 in 1994. All of the Bills money couldn’t save her health. I’d make a bet to say that Mary would have traded all of her money just to have her health. Steve Jobs was the genius that founded Apple computers. Steve died at the age of 54 due to pancreatic cancer. And in his own words, Steve Jobs said…
“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful, that’s what matters to me.”
If you’ve got your health, a place to live, a car to drive, and food in your belly; you need to get down on your knees and thank the big man upstairs… or wherever else you think the Lord of your kingdom resides.
One more thing to remember…
Even when you have it, it is hard to keep it. Almost everyone on this planet wants to separate you from your wealth… your self-serving advisers, rigged and crash-prone stock markets, manipulative banks, and of course the government.
Living well to me isn’t about monster size flat-screen TVs, driving a BMW, or wearing diamond-encrusted watches. It’s so easy in America to be sucked into “stuff”… from the pressure to “keep up with the Jones” to the constant barrage of advertising from every angle.
But you can’t take stuff with you. I’ve never seen a hearse− the funeral coach− with luggage racks. And if stuff is what you choose, just remember, you’ll be busy working for the rest of your life to pay for your stuff.
If you follow my definition of living well, then the goal becomes living life to the fullest instead of buying stuff… and saving instead of buying so you don’t have to worry about money so much.
People want to invest wisely so they don’t have to worry about money. If you change your definition of living well, then you can get to the point of not worrying about money all the time… and start living by being happy.
