…as opposed to fear and loathing…? So it goes.
It’s late right now. I write these words on an old laptop computer. These twenty-six characters give me more peace, more mental euphoria that anything I can go purchase at the store. Money is a mechanical gear of madness. How can I purchase satisfaction? What item, what thing can fill an internal void? Happiness—that is, your happiness—cannot be rectified by offering up slips of paper to a stranger who then allows you to carry out a box of Stuff.
Here we go—happiness is not defined. It is not universal. Happiness to you or to I will be completely different answers. What makes me happy? A cold beer with an old college pal, a hot steak and a big ass potato, a good laugh with some friends when we’re out one night too late. These are not commodities that I can buy at a retail store. No associate can direct me to the aisle full of laughter and brilliant memories. No money will ever be able to create the memories that I have from partying a bit too late years ago. I cannot sell these memories to someone who does not have them.
Money will never be my master. I will never let cash flow dictate my satisfaction. Why—I know you’re asking—is that? I cannot determine how fat my paycheck is. I can work my ass off but until someone else decides to Give Me Some More, I will be screwed to the wall at a set wage. I will not let that wage determine how happy I am. I will seek satisfaction in the intangibles.
How peaceful is a sunset over salt air? Just how much can you sell a rainy Sunday morning for? What would you give for an extra hour of sleep when you’re exhausted? The next time you’re ready to tell someone exactly what you think—what would it be worth? Just letting go and whaling on ‘em and not stopping until your blood is hot and your heart is hammering—that is a feeling that cannot be bought.
Money cannot be the goal in life—it can only be used as a stepping stone. It cannot be the reason to do anything. It has to be the facilitator, not the provider. Money will give you the means, but it cannot provide the end result. You want to go to Hawaii? Then you need money to go—but that trip better be what you enjoy, not the money it takes to go.
When we allow money to seep into our lives and corrode our souls then we have surrendered who we are. We have given control of Our Happiness to Someone Else. Do you want someone else to decide when you can be happy? Knowing that someone else has the ability to discern my satisfaction is enough to make my blood boil. I will not allow it. Money is needed, not necessary.
Go forth. Make money. Money will help to provide many things you need in life. A house, food, medicine, education—but you will never be able to buy your happiness. Having an education makes you happy? Is that is or is it the opportunities that will allow you to make more money that having an education provides? Find your happiness. If you dig deep enough, far enough, peel back enough layers, then you’ll see that happiness comes without a price tag.
These are my words.
These words are my happiness.
