Am I Rich?

There seem to be three traits that much of our society values a great deal:  youth, likeability, and wealth.  If we happen to have all three traits, or at least the appearance of having them, then our culture considers us to be very fortunate.  And our own self-esteem frequently seems also to be healthier and happier.

While the first two traits receive a great deal of attention during our daily lives, it is the trait of wealth that seems to receive the most focus as to our real value and worth as humans. 

Many persons who would be asked about a wish for their lives would probably respond with something having to do with receiving wealth.  We have so many who sincerely believe that wealth truly brings happiness into life.

What does it mean to be “rich”?  Is this one of those words in our language where there are different definitions even when our usage indicates that we are all talking about the same thing?  How much does it take to be considered rich by our own self-image when compared to those around us?

For many of us, being rich means that we have some large amount of money.  I can recall my childhood when having a single dollar bill (or a silver dollar coin) would give me feeling of being VERY rich.   Now I feel rich and enriched with the blessings of kindness and generosity when a friend places a hundred-dollar bill in an envelope and sends it for the purpose of having me do something special for myself other than pay bills. As a child it was the money; as an adult it is the love and caring that create the positive feelings.

I know friends who do not feel rich with several million dollars that they have.  They believe they need even more money to be wealthy enough.  How much more money that is needed to feel adequate is always vague as they devote their life energies to earning more wealth.  My mind cannot comprehend a million dollars; I look for my  wealth in other ways.

So, who is rich?  Is it the one with a few dollars or the one with many of them?  Does the definition depend on how we see ourselves?  Or, is the definition measured by the individual who has more/less money than we do?  Or does it depend on our neighbors around us in our culture? 

Is being rich all about having money or can wealth be defined in other ways?  Can we have our wealth in different forms?  Can the love of friends,  grandchildren and pets be considered wealth?

I know individuals who have loving family and friends with little money who consider themselves wealthy.  And the reverse situation is also present for some in our society where having plenty of money does not guarantee that happiness and joy are present.  Does money equal wealth for you?
Have you clarified how wealth and money fit into your own personal value system?

I also know people who say that they would rather have the non-material aspects of wealth in their lives as long as they have enough money to “get by”.   Again, who decides what is enough?

Does our culture and personal value system ever allow us to be satisfied with having enough money?

These questions and answers from our personal value system in regards to wealth have an impact on much of our daily behavior and the worth we assign to ourselves  and others as humans. 

For example:  do we believe that people who have lots of money are more intelligent, more likable and have more important things to say than someone who has little money?   Is someone who is poor and homeless worthy of less attention and care from us than a person who may have more money? 

Are we afraid that if we associate with or give to the poor, that we may lose some of our wealth and others may think less of us, not to mention our own self-perception of being ‘losers’ without wealth?  Are we ‘winners’ in the game of life if we have more wealth at the end?   How do we choose to see ourselves?

Am I rich?  Will I ever be rich enough?  How does my value system about the role of wealth direct my daily behavior and how I see myself and other people?

As we continue the Life Journey on better understanding of ourselves, our attitudes, values and behavior in the area of wealth can tell us much us about ourselves.  As always, we are challenged in our learning to be honest with ourselves on this sensitive cultural topic.

Comments welcome.  Email:  silverchatline@gmail.com