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I imagine I am dead, struck down in the prime of my life. My family mourns me. My accountant mourns me.

It would be easy to say that health is more important than wealth; however, there are those of us who wish to leave a legacy behind for our children. Nonetheless, in the debate to decide whether health is wealth or wealth is health, the question is, what do you wish for? The chance to see your children graduate, marry and bring forth grandchildren? To find out if we land on Mars? To be able to live a self sufficient life, which requires strength and agility? Can money buy you these things? Not really. It may enhance your quests and activities, but it cannot create them.

My youngest daughter said to me recently, "Daddy, I don't want you to ever die." So, I am bound to her wishes. I might say, "Tell you what honey, here's a hundred grand. Will that work instead?" Albeit that this notion is gratuitously cavalier, it bears consideration.

If we ask our family and friends what choice they would make for us, chances are they would say, "Be poor, but be happy and healthy." I realize that the lack of wealth can be frustrating, but is is truly amazing what the human spirit, mind and body can accomplish with very few resources.

It is almost too cruel that the chase for wealth can invoke so much hardship and stress. Stress is one of the top killers in the world and money is one of the top reasons it has achieved this notorious distinction. Some philosophers have suggested that if we could eliminate money as a necessity, we could become healthier as a species. I believe it.

In China, a land where money is scarce, over 400 million people are seniors. By the year 2050, 32 percent of the world's population will be over 60. If we were to measure their incomes, we would find that 97 percent of them do not make a lot of money. Many of them certainly have health issues, and one might argue that health drains wealth. These statistics confirm that, notwithstanding dropping birthrates, our quest to be healthier is prevailing and pervasive. Ironically, the manufacturers of vitamins, supplements and health-assist products are getting wealthier. For them, health is definitely wealth.

We need only look at an elderly couple walking hand in hand in the evening to realize that the first thing we think about is how lucky they are and not how wealthy they are. They may be the best evidence to support the 'yes' side of the debate.

I am a wealthy man, not because of my income, but because of my 4 children and my abilities and sensibilities, which inspire me to be creative with them - to live, love, laugh and dream with them.

As for my accountant, he's happy for the time being.

Learn more about this author, Michael Kryton.
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