At the end of the day, we all do the same things: we eat, we do things, we sleep.
Whether you have a modest salary or millions of dollars, we actually do the same things.
You can only eat so much.
You can only sleep so much.
You can only cram so much excitement and entertainment into your life.
Some might argue that quality is different.
A millionaire might eat chef prepared foie gras for dinner, but that wouldn’t necessarily make me happier than my $6 chicken shawarma.
At the end of the night, we both have full bellies and we both crawl into our beds for a good rest.
The millionaire may be in a mansion with more space than is required, and I may be in a studio with just enough space… but we both only take up half a bed when we sleep.
It isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, being rich…
I have never had millions of dollars all at once in my life, but lots of millionaires keep repeating on record that money isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
I mean yes .. it is true that money means everything to you when you are under or close to the poverty line and are struggling to keep a roof over your heads and to put food on the table.
But once you reach a certain threshold of income, you aren’t necessarily happier with more money unless you continually compare yourself with others around you.
Money doesn’t really mean anything when you have a lot of it. Memories and experiences start becoming more important than money.
There’s on Australian millionaire who gave away everything and says he lives in a small apartment and couldn’t be happier than when he had mansions from coast to coast.
I heard another anecdote from someone (not sure about the name, although I have tried to Google the story) about a French CEO who is the head of a couple of companies, and has a LOT of money and influence.
He actually sold/gave up everything, and moved to India to live simply.
He shows up in a simple white robe to work, and only has a mat to sleep on at home.
…and he says he couldn’t be happier.
He has “had it all” and he prefers not having anything at all, because he feels truly free.
With that in mind, I’ve long since stopped comparing myself against those who seem to have glitzier lifestyles, because I am not certain that I would be happier with a glamourous lifestyle.
I like having things to look forward to.
If I could jet off to Europe for a trip any time I wanted and money was of no object, it would lose its luster and allure.
The magic of anticipating, saving and dreaming about such a trip is gone.
I somewhat like having to save up for something and really feel good that I’ve spent the money towards what I really wanted.
If I had too much money, I wouldn’t know what I really wanted because I wouldn’t need to decide between anything — I could just have it all.
So really, if I am above the poverty line and comfortable, it’s the most I could ever ask for.
