Wealth

What is wealth?  The Merriam Webster Dictionary has several definitions, “abundance of valuable material possessions or resources” and “abundant supply”.  Most people would term a millionaire as wealthy.  But are they truly wealthy?

In this day and age, it appears that the world is seeing more and more millionaires.  Courses on financial wealth, internet marketing, trading, currency exchange, private equities, (etc, etc, etc) package making tons of money appear easy.  Is money the be all and end all of wealth?

The tumultous financial climate, the food scares, a recent trip to HK and The Bucket List gave me some new perspectives on wealth.  Having been exposed to various environments and friends where the concept of money can range from extremely significant to the point of obsession to it being perceived as evil or sinful to own in excess amounts, the diverse views could have potentially ruined my individual perspective of wealth!  But of course one’s map is not the territory.

The recent events and some new experiences have further reinforced my personal values.

1.  Always do the right thing because if you don’t, it will always come back and haunt you.  The collapse of Lehman Brothers, the near bankruptcy of AIG and other financial moguls are just some examples.   The tainting of milk products with melamine in a bid to earn more profits was simply unbelievable.  From exalting noble values in the Cultural Revolution just decades ago, the Chinese business culture seems to have swung in the opposite direction.  A by-product of unnaturally accelerated economic change in a country of diverse classes?  Perhaps.  I seriously pray that they truly have learnt their lesson this time.  I can never look at a “made in China” product in the same way ever again.  In the pursuit of short-term gains, the Americans and the Chinese dis-regarded some fundamental rules of money and ethics, hence losing sight of the big picture.  Possibly, some were not even aware or concerned of the long-term impact of their actions.  Must negative consequences always occur before people learn from their mistakes?  Sigh.

2.   Respect money.  Don’t underestimate or overestimate the importance of $$$.  I have witnessed how unbalanced some friends’ lives can be when they are chasing their personal financial goals.  Money is simply a tool to achieve one’s wants and needs.  Money is also a great tool to test people’s values and beliefs.  Giving millions to a greedy and selfish man versus millions to Mother Theresa will definitely wield completely different results.  My HK friend taught me that wealth is simply transitional and temporal.  Having lived through phases of abundance to scarcity, she learnt that invaluable lesson the hard way.  Pursue riches if that is what you want, but don’t do it unscrupulously and don’t give up your friends and family while immersed in that mode of pursuit.  It is easier said than done!  But I believe no one wants to be the billionaire played by Jack Nicholson in The Bucket List who only has his personal assistant visit him in hospital when he is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

3.  Importance of love and friendship.   It is the love and support of family and friends that pulls us through tough times.  No millionaire is truly wealthy without support from family and friends.  Enough said.

4.  New entry – Spiritual wealth.  Hmmm, this value is something I have suppressed over the years due to some unique family circumstances.  But it has “poking” me every now and then, in positive and negative experiences.  Time to review it!

Conclusion? Wealth in every sense of the word is something that is attainable if one disciplines oneself enough.  Discipline in the sense of striking a balance between work and play and also between earthly and spiritual needs.