The Happiest Person in the World or the Richest?

Basics

A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart.

- Jonathan Swift

 

That’s an easy question for me, but I was curious about 1what other people thought and I asked around at the office.

Maria – Richest

Kathy – Happiest

Susan – Happiest

John – Richest

Kevin – Richest

Tom – Happiest

It broke down to a 50/50 split. I wasn’t surprised by these numbers, but I was surprised by their responses.

“I’ll buy happiness. Man, you don’t know what it’s like growing up poor.”

“If I was the richest I would be happy. I don’t need to be the happiest.”

The three co-workers who chose money over happiness surprised me because I always believed people used money to try to create happiness. Wouldn’t you be eliminating the middle man if you went straight for the ability to be purely happy? I guess they were thinking that they would be happy and rich so they may as well have the best of both worlds. The problem with that line of thinking is that money doesn’t work that way because:

• Friends that you haven’t seen in ten years would be coming out of the woodworks, begging for money.

• You’d have to worry for your family’s safety because you’ll attract kidnappers and lawyers who’ll find any angle they can to get your money.

• Your life is no longer about happiness - it’s about holding on to your money

As I’m writing this piece I’m still shocked by my co-workers responses and I wish I could sit them down and show them all the philosophers and business men who say that money doesn’t solve anything, it just intensifies the situation. I understand the fascination with wanting to being rich and I would definitely want to be rich instead of poor. The rich have options that regular people don’t have, but that’s the way it is. I’m working on becoming a wealthier person, but before I become wealthy my number one priority is to become happy. Whatever happens after that, I can deal with it.

If a rich person gets sick they still have to go through the pain of a depleted immune system just like the rest of us. If a happy person gets sick their perspective helps them appreciate the love that surrounds them. Yes, I understand that the rich can buy the best health care possible and being rich will most likely improve the illness, but it won’t fix a broken soul. Look at Kanye West’s mother, rich beyond her wildest dreams (at least her son was and would buy her anything she needed). She was still unhappy with how she looked. She is no longer alive because her plastic surgery went horribly wrong. Another doctor told her it wasn’t worth the risk, but she didn’t listen and went to a doctor that would take her money.

Being rich only complicates a difficult choice; being happy doesn’t complicate anything. It only creates joy.

Popularity: 19% [?]

Karl @ December 7, 2007