by Mary 39 Replies latest jw friends
Money doesn't buy the kind of joy that only comes from relationships. I think of this every time I see another Hollywood marriage tank out, and I realize I would NOT trade places for all their wealth.
Someone said, Don't measure wealth by what you have, but by what you have for which you would not trade money.
bebu
Money can help provide a certain amount of security and freedom to persue your interests, That can deliver happiness.
There will always be people who have problems who happen to be rich. It isn't the money per-se but their inability to manage their lives.
It's also possible to be rich without money *but* it can be harder because more time and effort has to go into work and providing and possibly worrying about the future.
I'm looking forward to the new Will Smith movie which hopefully will explore the issues of happiness, poverty, and mobility:
Money buys chocolate, so I would say yes.
Of course money buys happiness!!
But it's not the only thing that brings happiness into your life.
The other things are being content in your beliefs, being with the right life partner, having children, being in good health and working in a satisfying job.
Despite everything the Watchtower teaches and other religions as well, money CAN buy you happiness if you use it sensibly and wisely and generously!
It can buy you better health, in that you can eat healthily and afford the best medical treatments.
It can buy you peace of mind in that you can help your loved ones.
It can buy you a fair share of security, in that you don't have to worry about losing your job or you family being in dire straits, as you can help them.
It CAN'T buy you eternal life. It can't give you 100 % security but it can certainly buy you time with your loved ones and the ability to help others. Those things are priceless!
I've had it both ways. I'll take life w/ $$$ anyday of the week.
To contradict an old Beatles lyric: Fun & (happiness, Italics mine) is the one thing money CAN buy.
Dismembered
Lack of money causes unhappiness. Once you have enough not to have to worry, having LOTS more doesn't make you a LOT happier.
Cowling's Theorem of Diminishing Retail Satisfaction states:
If expenditure of £X gives satisfaction S (where S is the product of enjoyment and time),
then expenditure £10X gives satisfaction <10S.
ie. spending £100 won't provide 10 times as much satisfaction as spending £10, or satisfy for 10 times longer.
The reason Hollywood stars have weird relationships is because they are the sort of needy show-offs that seek that lifestyle, not because they are wealthy.
The perfect thread for this article in Yahoo. Apparently, happiness is in the eye of the beholder, although the article does mention that people with money and health are generally happier:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061126/ap_on_he_me/be_happy
CG
I saw a program on TV a few weeks ago interviewing people who had won the lottery. Not one of them regretted winning and they ALL said they were happier than what they were before winning.........
Like some have already mentioned: if money doesn't buy happiness, why does poverty buy such misery?
