I've been poor.
Rich is better in several ways.
But it doesn't necessarily follow that being rich always made me happier.
Benjamin Franklin observed:
Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.
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Oh yes, the content of our minds and hearts is far more important than the content of our wallets.
ReplyDeleteAn appreciation of true beauty makes life worth living. Without that all the money in the world is of little help. Achieving happiness is partly a matter of will and determination.
Abe Lincoln, who suffered from what-we-call "clinical depression" today, said, "A man can be about as happy as he makes up his mind to be" -- or something very like that.
An old friend sent me these. They arrived yesterday in the mailbox at the end of the driveway. Receiving snail mail is a rare treat these days. ;-)
ReplyDelete"To love for the sake of being loved is human, but to love for the sake of loving is angelic."
~ Alphonse de Lamartin
"Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing."
~ Albert Schweitzer
One more inspiring thought; This from Thomas Merton in "New Seeds of Contemplation:"
ReplyDelete_______________ Prisoners of Ourselves _______________
"It is not that someone else is preventing you from living happily; you. yourself, do not know what you want. Rather than admit this, you pretend that someone is keeping you from exercising your liberty. Who is this? It is yourself."
Now think for a moment how that applies to all our moaning and groaning about politics, and how that keeps us constantly aggravated and ill tempered.
There's much to be said for replacing COMPLAINT with CONTEMPLATION, which is another name for prayer
But, being a discontent rich is better than being a discontent poor.
ReplyDeleteI have been rich and I have been poor.
ReplyDeleteHaving wealth at the moment means I know my nieces and grand niece are provided for and that brings me some happiness.
Otherwise, I was pretty content when I was poor.
Duck,
DeleteProviding for one's beloved family members does bring great satisfaction. I did some of that for one of my cousins before she got married.
That cousin, my heir, is now well provided for via other channels. Other than that one cousin, I have nobody else that Iwant to help.
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When I was rich (and in better physical shape), I wish that I'd done more traveling. One of my biggest regrets is that I haven't traveled worldwide. I could still travel some, I suppose, but dealing with Mr. AOW's disability during such travel is a pain; also, he could not access a lot of sites that we would want to see.
Godliness with contentment is great gain.
ReplyDeleteEd,
DeleteAnd a comfort in its own right.
There can BE no true contentment WITHOUT godliness, Ed. That is why we see so many stories of rich, famous, powerful people who lead miserable, personal lives and do much to make those who live and work with them miserable. Some -- like poor Christina Onassis, who had everything and nothing at the same time, -- committed SUICIDE at the age of TWENTY-NINE. She had no sense of God's Presence in her life, poor girl!
DeleteWhat good does it do anyone to gain tremendous wealth and power, if one loses the capacity to love and care for others, the instinct to share, and the desire to do good? Jesus asked the same question in fewer words. We need, however, to define the meaning of "godliness." Finding the answer is -- or should be -- the work of a lifetime.
"Seek Ye FIRST the Kingdom of God ... and [everything you really need] shall be added unto you."
FT,
DeleteAgreed.
Agreed also.
DeleteConsidering the fact that I have never been rich, I find happiness through my faith in God, my children and family.
ReplyDeleteMoney would be awesome, and yes it would make life a lot easier, but to bring true happiness it must come within.
Leticia,
DeleteI've never been very rich, but I have been somewhat rich. In the past -- back when Mr. AOW was in the coin-and-jewelry business when the market was hot without having a huge initial investment.
I have to say that we enjoyed some good times -- but not the best times that we've ever had.