Happiness and Wealth

 There was a time when I struggled with depression, but for quite some time I have been relatively happy.  This is not to say every day is perfect.  Yesterday, I did some research on wealth and happiness.  And I want to share some thoughts about both today.  Both in regard to what I found and my own personal life.  Before I go any further, let me just say that I think of myself more of an exception than the rule.  My own happiness can't be measured by either wealth or anything tangible.  I AM different.  So, whatever I say here does not apply to me.

Mark Twain says that if one is virtuous without wealth, one will go through life unnoticed.  Psychology says a man who has money needs many women and a woman who has money needs no man.  Wealth changes a person, but to be truly happy, one needs to make a million dollars a year, and after that money doesn't buy happiness.  Someone said, we can't feed the poor and attack the problem of poverty of those who don't have enough because the rich believe they never have enough.  

At some point in our lives having enough of anything is happiness.  Happiness is spending time with family.  But if bills can't be paid and a family is living paycheck to paycheck and there are financial stresses, that is not happiness.  But to be truly happy, one must be satisfied with enough.  

Happiness begins with contentment.  Happiness sets in mostly in the late teen and mid-twenties.  This is when most people are truly happy.  Then studies show that life is most stressful for those in their early thirties.  But the most unhappy period of a person's life is when one is their 40's. After that, happiness returns in the 50's.  But one does not achieve a true state of true happiness until one is in their 90's.

Now, there are exceptions to these rules, of which I am one.  But I am a rarity.  Wealth goes hand-in-hand with happiness, except as one finds true happiness apart from wealth.  But how does one do that?  There are no formulas to life and living.  There are no formulas for happiness.  But to be truly happy apart from wealth and things, one must choose to be happy.  Happiness is being content with what you have.  It begins there.  But no matter what you have or don't have you don't compare yourself to others.  

You are each on your own unique path of life as I am.  Happiness is always a choice.  Sorrow comes and goes, but to achieve a state of true happiness in life begins with contentment.  Not that you can't do more, or that you have done enough.  Achievement is honorable.  And can bring its own form of happiness.  But happiness is not always found in wealth or achievement.  If one seeks happiness one will find happiness.  But too often our happiness is sacrificed in material pursuits.  

About 95% of people in poor countries are happy, whereas in the industrial world only  60% of the people are happy.  It is because the poor in poor countries have community and family.  That makes them happy.  People in wealthy countries often find loneliness and struggle.  Happiness is a choice not dictated by wealth.  Some people would rather have close friends and family time than to pursue wealth.  The wealthy never have enough.  

But happiness is always about a choice.  Embtace the present and live with Peace.  I am smoking my Sherlock Holmes pipe this morning and the tobacco is a bowl of Professor I am trying to finish up.  Our neighbor is getting his roof done so there is a lot of noise coming from next door.  It rained a bit last evening, but not enough to make a dent in what we need.  It's overcast this morning with temps in the mid-60's.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave