21 January 2008
WEALTH: What is it? (Part I)
Posted by Robin Easton under: Hobnobbin' with Robin .
GREETINGS EARTHLINGS!
Did you know that Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, defines WEALTH like so?
Wealth is from the old English word “weal”, which means “well-being” or “welfare”. The term was originally an adjective to describe the possession of such qualities. But, “Wealth” has come to mean an abundance of items of economic value, or the state of controlling or possessing such items, and encompasses money, real estate and personal property.
This last week I thought a lot about WEALTH. How do we define wealth? In my country (the United States of America) it seems to be that wealth is usually defined in terms of money, how much we have accumulated, and how well our accumulation is reflected in the quality of our home, car, clothes, school, food, etc. We are bombarded by: The 400 Richest Americans, the Richest Women in Showbiz, Top10 Richest People, World’s Richest Men, etc., etc. I wonder if anyone ever did a survey of the wealthiest people in the world and did NOT take money into account. Now, that would be a fascinating survey. What makes us wealthy if we cannot define wealth in terms of money, stocks, etc.?
I don’t believe there’s anything wrong with being prosperous and having the things we need and, ideally, a life of ease. There’s too much abundance in the Universe for me to feel we were put on this Earth to suffer in a constant state of deficit. However, I wonder if we have become myopic in our concept and perception of wealth. Is monetary wealth now the only form of wealth we recognize? Is it how we gauge our self-worth, our status, and our success in life?
I could have all the money in the world. Imagine it horded in my small living room. Now what? Yes, I could buy any car I wanted, any house, furniture, clothes, camping gear, travel, anything I wanted….ANYTHING. But if I did not have my beautiful sweetheart and life companion who is so kind and compassionate, if did not have my precious friends who love me even when I’m slow at returning calls and emails, if I did not have my dreams, creativity, determination, faith, or my ability to appreciate the simplest of meals (a green salad and chunk of bread), if I could not play piano, or could not go into the woods alone and be at peace, or could not enjoy children and elders or the love of waking to a new day….I could have a living room full of money and be the poorest woman in the world.
Happiness? Money? Neither has to exist to the exclusion of the other. But I think if we only look at how much money we have when we define our wealth, then we are indeed poor. We miss a whole world of experiences, people and things that can enrich our lives.
From my heart,
Robin
This Site: © Robin Easton
Website: http://www.nakedineden.com
Blog: http://nakedineden.com/nakedinedenblog/
One Comment so far...
phoenix Says:
12 June 2008 at 5:50 pm.
I think it’s true what you say, that wealth is measured against how much money you have. even here in SA it’s like that, I think anywhere in the world it would be like that, and yes, I think it’s sad that it is like that.
I sometimes wondered how it would have been if currency were never invented. If you need something you trade for it, one sheep for 10 of your chickens, or something like that, would have made life so much easier.. Am just wondering how many sheep you would have to pay to fill up your car in these days 
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