The Love Of Money Drives Some People Nuts, But Not Others
Posted: Monday, September 10, 2007
by Susan Thom
I have never been one to think about money in any way other than to pay for what I need and want.
And I still think of it as a must, to pay for what we need. That's the extent of my connection to what many believe is the root of all evil. I need money to pay bills and get food and clothing and whatever else I may think of, but if I don't have it, I make do without, I don't go out and rob a store. I have plenty of "things" Ive accumulated over my fifty one years, and many things that were gifts. I dont need any more "things."
My dogs have amazed me every day. I started taking an interest in our older dog now that I have more incentive, since she plays with my other litle dog, and I have become close to her. I gave her a nice bath the other day, something she is not used to, and my partner put ylang ylang on her coat, and I brushed her teeth, and she is enjoying her life again, and she is twelve years old.
She plays with my puppy, a little maltipoo, and they have a great time together. At night, they run all over the property and have fun. They get to have their time of frolic and exercise. I also take them in the car with me whenever its feasible, and they love it. It gets them out of the house just like it does me, and it gives me company when I'm doing my errands. And all this enjoyment and contentment, doesn't cost anything but the price of gas and shampoo.
Sitting on my swing watching all the activity, makes me happy, and cost ninety nine dollars seven years ago. There are mountains in the distance, in Pennsylvania, and I love to just marvel at their majesty. Everything is green and full, and the grass is fresh, soft, and manicured.
I'd sit on the grass and watch nature if I didn't have my swing, and still feel the same sense of peace and togetherness with nature. That's what's important.
Others are always thinking about money, it consumes them, and they are never happy as a result. Theyll drive twelve miles past a gas station, to save two cents a gallon, never realizing it cost them more than that to get there. Money rules their thinking, their acting, reacting, and consumes their desires and wants, and that's just a shame. We could die in a second, and not have ever had as much money as we wanted, but those of us who die being fulfilled with nature, and buying things to make us happy, die, at least, with a smile on our face.
We have a choice on this Earth that we live on. We can either live it happily, or unhappily. There's only two ways. If the love of money is more important than anything else, and is constantly rowing your boat, when you sink, you will never have had anything. I won't sink because I will always have nature and my partner and my children to give me all the strength I need, and all the enjoyment I could ever want.
I would love to have a few thousand dollars to just go out and shop until I cant shop anymore. Things for the house, things for the kids, my partner, and myself, but if I dont have the money to do that, I am more than happy enjoying my partner, my kids, and my home.
So what makes money motivate some, and not others? Probably learned behavior, and character traits from their astrological sign. I grew up with our family having little money. My mom had sixty dollars a week to try and buy enough food for six.
She managed, but bought all generic brand names. Its funny, but for some reason, that bothered me, and I swore when I grew up I would buy name brand mayonnaise and ketchup, and I have. I could have gone the other way, and stayed as frugal as our lifestyle was. I have gone the way of being able to afford the things I believed a home and family needed.
To me, money is a means to pay for what we want and need.
But it is not the core of my life. The thirty tomatoes from my partners garden that I brought to my friend today, was worth it. There wasn't one mark or bite or blemish on any one, and they are truly the best tomatoes I have ever eaten.
My friend is going to have one delicious pot of sauce, and then some.
These are the things that motivate me. These are the things that motivate my partner.
I would so much better rather live in this manner than constantly be in a frenzy over money. After all, the love of money is the root of all evil.
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Top-level comments on this article: (9 total)Your title as a question Susan: You gave your views and your philosophy. Although it would be a better world if people could find happiness and tranquillity in nature and the mysteries that lie in the stars above. also simple task like giving your dog a bath (By the way your dog at 12 years old that's 84 years in human age, he's and old fellow) Not all people who strive for money are bad. some of them are working for the Lord, it's hard to understand I know. But that's what life is about I guess trying to make sense of it all.Please log in to respond to this comment.
hi david, changed title, tweaked story, yes, i do keep thinking of my dog as being 84, and i don't mean strive for money, because everybody that works does that, i would think. i mean people who won't spend a nickel on anything, and are losing out because of it. example: not going to an amusement park because it costs too much money and losing out of the fun and enjoyment, although i wouldn't, i don't like rides. but that's my drift. someone who needs new clothes because theirs are full of holes, but won't spend the money to get new ones. and as far as some of them working for the Lord, i don't get that part. i am so glad you are reading my articles and commenting, please continue. best regards, sue thomPlease log in to respond to this comment.
People who EARN their money, should be allowed to decide how to spend it OR save it. If parents spend the family money wisely, then they have some left to leave their children. People who don't earn a dime should only be allowed to decide how to spend what they earn. :)Please log in to respond to this comment.
I disagree COMPLETELY with James. To say that only those who earn money can spend it, is not accurate. Take for instance, a work-at-home mom; some might say that she isn't earning any money, but that is totally ridiculous!!! The mom is earning money because she is actually saving money by doing all the menial chores no one else in the family is willing to do. Without the mom, the family would have to hire a maid, a nanny, a butler, a cook, a cleaning service, a chauffeur, and most likely a yard man, gardener, painter, carpenter, etc, etc, etc. Recent studies showed that an at-home mom is putting the equivalent of $120,000 into the family's savings every year. SO, in many cases the dollar amount of what the mom is doing is greater than the amount of money the husband is actually bringing home - making her entitled to ALL of 'his' money. What a completely short-sighted, self-centered comment!Please log in to respond to this comment.
Jean, allow me to redeem myself...A stay at home mom certainly may earn a portion of a family income, however in SO many cases one or other of the parties refuses to work when finances do not allow such a luxury! Through my work in a related field, I have watched many claim to be a "stay at home" parent, but that doesn't mean you can just give birth, then stay at HOME! Many parents that I have seen, fill their day with "nothingness"and pepper it with a small dose of productive activity. The families that I am admire most, like my own, are the ones that agree on splitting household chores, while also earning an income. My wife earns only slightly less at her chosen profession since she became a MOM, and I earn more since getting my masters degree while splitting ALL of the parenting and household duties. I do half of the cleaning and most of the cooking more than most of the driving to and from, half of the baths, and still make time to have a loving relationship with my wife. She has told me she never would have believed, that our "plan of attack" would have worked out so completely. It is a partnership, that causes us to be happily exhausted at the end of every week. We don't run about town ADVERTISING that we cleaned the bathroom and drove the soccer carpool and made a meal all in one day! We do it so our children feel loved and appreciated, but they also WATCH us provide an example. We WORK for an income, in a field we each chose, because someday they will need to go into this world and work too! Regards, James WilsonPlease log in to respond to this comment.
I see the point you are making, James, and agree that many families are out of balance. I also think that each family needs to discuss and find what works best for their family. It's a personal issue and if the partners do not agree, they'll need counseling for sure. I took exception to your blanket statement "People who don't earn a dime should only be allowed to decide how to spend what they earn." I think your definition of "earn" was too narrow. Thanks for clarifying. By the way, also for clarification, I am not a stay-at-home mom. I have always worked, at least part time, even when my children were infants. :)Please log in to respond to this comment.
i know people who do absolutely nothing on an 8 hour day job, and then come home and do nothing. i have worked outside the home, but inside the home, I have been a doctor, a nurse, a psychologist, a referee, a teacher, a cook, a dishwasher a maid, an accountant and a taxi cab driver.
i work harder than anyone i know that has an 8 hour job and comes home, sits on the couch, yells for a beer and watches tv until dinner, then goes to bed.
why? because i love my home and i love my kids. if i didn't have crohn's, which is a very debilitating disease, i would have been working as a Realtor to this day.
my point to my story was and is that there are those who COVET money. it is more important to them than nature, beauty, their familys, and they will be the ones to lose out.
on the other hand, i, who have enjoyed all that God has given us AND taken care of a four bedroom, 3 1/2 bath house and three kids, 2 dogs, and a cat, use money for what i need it for, but do not put it above my kids and my home, and i never will.
until you've been by yourself for two weeks with three kids and a home to take care of, you wouldn't know about of work i do and have always done.Please log in to respond to this comment.
Susan, I loved this article. And I understand exactly what you are saying. What I got out of it is those people who are content with themselves and in the Lord are not consumed with materialism and making more money but are content with what they have. Good article. Oh, and I love those garden tomato's, they will NEVER measure up to store bought! God bless! AngiePlease log in to respond to this comment.
hi angie, thank you for reading my article, and commenting. i appreciate it. the tomatoes this year were especially good with the weather. you got the article exactly as it was meant. thank you. come back soon!, best regards, suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
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