How do you define rich?
Hey rebellious ones,
I got to thinking the other day about the whole notion of being rich. Does being rich mean having a lot of money or does it mean something else to you? Webster’s defines rich as, “Having abundant possessions and esp. material wealth.” I used to define it that way too until I got laid off from my high paying job about 8 years ago. Living on less money for awhile taught me a few things about being rich. The most important one learned that having such a narrow definition of rich ignores or downplays the riches most of us have in our lives whether we make a ton of mula or not.
It can make folks think their lives have been failures because they haven’t measured up to some income standard.
Let’s challenge that definition by acknowledging different ways to be and feel rich!
I feel rich when I kayak on a meandering river.
I feel rich when I sing at a karaoke night.
I feel rich when I’m sitting with a group of friends drinking wine and laughing.
I feel rich when I contribute to a discussion during a documentary night in my town.
I feel rich I when have life shop participants tell me it changed their lives.
I feel rich when Jimmy and I take a walk in the moonlight on a hot summer night.
How do you define rich? Lots of money or something else. I’d love to hear.
Muse thx, Giulietta
RSS
I feel rich when I sleep well at night and wake up happy. 🙂
Matt,
Now that you mention it, sleeping through the night makes for a great next day! That’s one rich I’d like to have. My loving cat thinks my bed is a trampoline at night! (He feels rich when he sleeps well during the day.)
Appreciate you stopping by again. G.
My husband and I are living on less right now, and it’s a lifestyle choice. We decided a while back to put a premium on quality of life and sometimes that means following our hearts, even if there isn’t a large paycheck to back it up. On the other hand… we do want money… lots of it 🙂 but I am determined to achieve it doing work that I love. If the work feels lousy then the money means nothing. Overall I’m rich in love, laughter and friendship and that’s what it’s all about for me.
Angie,
With your talent for writing, I’m certain it will bring you all kinds of riches in the near future. I’m so with you on laughing. It’s always been one of my favorite things to do. The more hysterical the better.
Good to hear from you! Need to check out your blog tomorrow.
Giulietta
Hi Giuli,
As you know, I took a cut in pay to pursue more meaningful work and to write. Being able to do that makes me feel richer than when I was making more money but working 9-10 hours a day in a stressful position. And being able to pause and have meaningful interactions with the people in my life and not feel I have to rush to get back to work is another benefit.
Sally, I love that you can now “pause and have meaningful interactions with the people in your life.” Pause is a great word. Kinda like catch-up time. Makes me want to have a “pause” party, where people kick back all night.
Thx for taking time away from your writing to comment. Always a pleasure to read your words.
G.
I’m with everyone else, Giulietta: Wealth is better defined by who we have in our lives than what; by how much we love what we do than by how much we’re remunerated for doing it. For me it’s a ‘clean, well-lit space’, time outdoors and with friends, and the sense of freedom that comes from knowing I am beholden to nobody not of my choosing. If money comes again one day, I have plenty of places in mind to send it as quickly as I can, but more than ‘enough’ no longer appeals to me.
Wonderful post. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Hi Michael,
Great line, “more than ‘enough’ no longer appeals to me.” That’s such a good question to pose. How much is enough? It’s never defined. It’s rare to hear anyone say, “I have enough.”
Need to check out your great blog later today! Thx, G.
Money is always associated when we talk of being rich. I think the number one reason for this is that with money , we can do and experience almost everything. However, few are aware that acquiring material things will bring us only material riches.
When life hits us with its reality, we will then realize that the true riches have been with us all the time; but we take them for granted. 🙂
Richness is so much more than money. It’s family, and good health. It comes from living the life of our choosing, following what’s in our hearts, and being aware of the everyday treasures we encounter. Being aware can often draw riches to us.
Walter,
Yes, we take our riches for granted. Strange how we can’t see what we already have. Is that need for more, learned or innate? I’m visualizing a scene where everyone in the room feels “rich.”
Joanne,
“Everyday treasures” – cool way to look at it. What you say about being aware ties in nicely with what Walter says. Perhaps, we can’t see what we already have (our everyday treasures) because we’re not aware of what’s already around us.
If we can “wake up,” then we’ll be able to bask in the riches already in our lives.
Thanks for stopping by! G.
I feel rich when I have friends and family around be, when I’m at peace with the world, and I have a little bit of dark chocolate.
Giulietta –
I feel rich when someone I’ve worked with tells me that there life has improved. I feel rich when I get to spend time with the closest people in my life. I feel rich whenever the tremendous generosity of people astounds me yet again. I feel blessed that there is so much abundance in the universe. I more than halved my income in setting up my own coaching practice and I feel like the happiest man alive! Great post.
Phil
Terry,
I try to eat dark chocolate regularly too! If it comes from nature, then it’s probably good for us, right?
Phil, Congrats on your happiness. If you could show others how to find it or let it in too, you’d double your halved income. Generosity makes the world go round!
Thx. G.
I feel rich when I am with my family and friends.
Hi Alex,
Feeling rich everyday just requires a mindset change! Like your site Get Your Biz Savvy! Thx. G.
Similar to Alex, I feel rich with family and friends.