It's 2023 and while we're on paper richer than we've ever been as a species, money still makes the World go round. This is especially true in regards to social status, health and the ability to keep up with the Joneses. If you live in certain parts of the World the evidence is better than in others, but money definitely affects our social status regardless of where we live. In some extreme cases, being poor is an avenue to be systematically oppressed by both the bourgeois and even those mandated to create a level playing field.
There is almost nothing that money doesn't make easier. From having a nice place to stay to bring able to afford decent healthcare all the way to paying legal fees in order to fight, or fight back systematic oppression. We certainly are in a money conscious society and everyone goes out each day chasing the 'bag'. It is important to sometimes slow down and reflect though, which I try to do often. As much as we try to make decent money there is a real and present danger of getting lost in the numbers. Obsessing over increasing wealth is particularly quite cruel to the quality of life we may expect to live.
I totally understand that needs don't just magically disappear, nor am I advocating we become social outcasts by refusing to care. It's just that sometimes taking a step back helps us put things better in perspective. The biggest question I ask myself is just how differently I will live my life should I either gain or lose finances significantly. Money changes people, that's a given. It also breaks people to the extent that they lose their identities in pursuit. Practicing contentment is not a given but an achievement. It is something that we consciously do, else the risk of losing our sense of identity.
Financial independence is certainly the most important thing we can strive for as there are needs that must be met by finances when it comes to it. Yet the next best thing we can give to ourselves is to not get carried away by the dollar value of things. Am preaching to the choir as the World has changed quite a bit, but I've never seen someone content with what they have that end up losing their identities to financial swings. Satisfaction doesn't mean satiation though, and it is pertinent that we continue to strive for better.
Conclusion
I sometimes write to remind myself of the values I ought to posses. Perhaps a reflection from everyone needing this is require. I'll especially love to hear your thoughts.
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I think it's good to have these reflections as it often makes us re-evaluate or re-examined our values and principles.
Sometimes, I see it as being attached and getting stuck on a hamster wheel that we forget the bigger picture of existence. Other times, I feel it's sort of a trap that we may never get out of since it has been embedded into the core of society. It's hard to be content when one has all these needs to take care of.
Interestingly, our supposedly needs are never ending, which gives us the impression that we can't stop and should achieve them by any means.