Oh, my! You've gone and stepped on my hot button! Money vs. happiness.

First there is the money. Everybody has some, whether it be a few cents or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Needless to say, those with only a few cents want more. They don't want more to be happy, they want more so they can feed themselves and put a roof over their heads and clothes on their backs. This is, of course called money for necessities. Now, of course, enough money for necessities will make anyone happy who doesn't have at least that in life.

Then we have those with hundreds of thousands of dollars, maybe even millions. They, too, want more. But their motivation is not the same. These fine folks already have the food, the wardrobe, the fancy house and much more. Yet, they want more money. That's it; just more! So, it would follow that if what they already have is not enough to make them happy, what makes them think having more will?

Before I step on anyone's toes, let me stress that there are folks out there who do, indeed have more money than they could ever spend, and they are totally happy. These people are called philanthropists. Having all this money is not their goal to obtaining happiness. Giving it away for the benefit of mankind is what makes them happy. Other than for these folks, I would have to say unequivocally, NO; money does not bring happiness. It can and usually does bring a whole new set of problems, heartache and discontent.

I was growing up during WWII when times were tough for everyone. Our family was not rich, but they managed in a network of family and friends who shared and helped each other. It never occurred to me that I didn't have everything I wanted. I thought I did.

As an adult, I have seen some rough times that made my childhood look plush! But even so, I never felt as though I was poor. Lacking funds is more descriptive. I always had a home, clothes, family and friends. Happiness may have been on the back burner till our family became stabilized, but it wasn't a matter of having money or not having money. It was just going through a period of having to tighten our belts for awhile. I think most people have gone through that.

I am personally not a rich person, monetarily. I am, however, a very wealthy person. I have a wonderful family, a Husband, children, grandchildren, many relatives and friends that I have been close to all of my 70 years. I have a modest home, a gorgeous Golden Retriever, and I am a cancer survivor.

I don't have spare cash to travel the world, but I have the ability to plan ahead and take an occasional trip when the spirit moves me.

Thus the debate goes on as to whether or not money buys happiness. I guess it does for shallow people. For the rest of mankind, there are just too many things in life that are so much more valuable than money. And I, for one, can say I am blessed. I could never put a value on what I have, and there is no amount of money that could buy it.

Learn more about this author, Donna Marie Gray.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Does money really bring happiness??
We want to hear your view. Write now!