I just read an article on the BBC web page.  The article talks about the super-rich and how they make and spend their money.  The article basically outlines what we’ve all known for some time now.  The article also said that about 40% of the wealth in this country, is controlled by 1% of the population.  At first I thought  “how do I get to be a part of that 1%?”  Having no money, you always dream, or desire to have more money, thinking that money is the key to happiness.  That money gets you the finer things in life.

I always think back to the days when I made $150 a week, thinking that if I made $250 a week things would be better.  Well, when I was making $250, I thought that if I made $350 a week, things would be better.  No matter how much money I made, it was never enough.  I may never earn enough money, but I know that money is not the key to happiness.

Money, is a means that allows me to buy more stuff.  That’s it.
One of the things that money can’t buy is happiness.  People with sick kids don’t wish for money, they wish for their kids to be healthy.  People that are lonely don’t wish for more money, they wish for a friend, or for companionship.  Money may buy people nice houses and cars but it can’t buy them happiness, or joy, or peace.

The burning building analogy is one of my favorite thought exercises.  Picture a burning building, at one end there is a stash of money, and at the opposite end one of your loved ones.  You will only be able to get one or the other out of the building.  Now, if you had to pick between getting a loved one or a stash of money out of a burning building, which would you pick?  Would your decision change if that stash of money was all the money that you had in the world?

I know of many rich people that are miserable.  Many of them are very self destructive.  Money, buys them their self destructive ways.  Not that they want to be poor, but it’s hard to imagine that Paris Hilton would be Paris Hilton if she had to work at Wal-Mart for $11 an hour.  Nodamene?

Anyway, earthly treasures don’t mean much.  Money, doesn’t mean much.  Family, friends, health, happiness are worth more than money.  Fortunately, family, friends, health, happiness don’t cost any money.

So, guess what?  The best things in life are free.