Paintings good friends love for things writings etc Life can be a struggle for anyone......but you have to make something positive out of it if you can....and if you can't chalk it up to a lost cause and move on, if you can what do you want out of life?
power, to have some control over your surroundings, other people, to get the things you want. thats what power is.
So when your purse is empty so is your life. Maybe deriving meaning or fullfillment in life from money is what makes life more like bullshit. Wether you have it, chase after it or just dream of it
You have to have it to survive, but money doesn't necessarily bring happiness or fulfilment. None of the rich people I've known seemed to be very happy, and I can't say any of them made me think they had any particular insight into life's deeper meanings ..
I read recently-- Money can only buy happiness up to a certain "tipping point", around $50,000 USD per year, on average. So, essentially, if you earn more than that, your happiness doesn't go up, but if you earn less, your happiness levels do go down. To me, that says you only need to earn enough to be stable and not live paycheck to paycheck. Although, in some parts of the country, you would be living paycheck to paycheck on 50k per year.
I know some rich people who seem pretty happy but I agree...their money doesn't give them any more wisdom or insight than anyone else has and they aren't happy just because they have money either. But I will say....money doesn't buy happiness but it does allow people to focus on other things that make them happy. If you don't have to work two jobs just to pay the rent, you may have a little more time to do other things you'd like to do.
Yes - if you have no money, life is no fun. It becomes a struggle to survive. You need to have your basic needs to be happy,and to have the leisure to enjoy life.
Some people's money does not make me happy...look at what OJ Simpson's money allowed him to get away with..... meanwhile some poor person sits in jail for stealing something to feed their family.
On the flip-side....I also know (and have known) some fairly poor people who had their basic needs barely meant most of the time and they are some of the happiest people around. They've figured out how to be happy with almost nothing. My dad and step-mom were old hippie types (who I moved in with at 14) who didn't have much at all. They enjoyed things that didn't cost very much...gardening, the dogs, camping, family gatherings, etc. And most of all, they enjoyed each other. I don't think I've ever met two people who obviously loved each other so much. They were also very generous people even when there wasn't much to give. I had friends without fathers who looked to my dad as a father figure. They were welcome at any time and a few even lived with us when they had nowhere else to go. We didn't always have a full pantry but there was always enough to go around....even if someone showed up unexpectedly. Helping people made them happy.
Sounds like your folks were good people. I am more comfortable around people like that - probably because I'm really an old hippy myself. :daisy: