🚀 go-pugleaf

Sarah <spruce@resnet.gatech.edu> wrote:
> No it isn't. The desire for money above all else is probably not the surest
> way to happiness, but having money in addition to other things is most
> definitely something worth desiring. :-)

Money buys you goods and services.  Those goods and services may bring you
short-term happiness, I concede.  However, long-term joy is not brought on
by goods and services.  Family, friends, a significant other, helping
others, giving your time, conversation, enjoying your environment, fighting
for a cause, etc. are all sources of long-term joy.  Source?  The very
people that participate in these acts.

Desiring money to aide you in these tasks is reasonable.  Desiring money
for the sake of desiring money, or for desiring goods and services alone, is
not a source of happiness.

> Caveat emptor. And kudos to the entrepreneur.

Ever wonder why Carnegie decided to give away most all of his capital near
the end of his life?  Or why Bill Gates plans to give away all but 20mil
before he passes away (the 20 going to his children, 10mil a piece)?  I'll
tell you why: because these obscenely rich people realize that having money
has not made them happy.

If money was such a source of happiness, there should be at least a mild
correlation between having it and being happy, right?  So, one would imagine
that having 60+ billion dollars would cause one to practically have a
coronary from happiness, right?

When I met Bill this summer, he didn't seem like an overjoyed man.  Sure, he
didn't seem sad, either.  But it wasn't like he interspersed every few lines
of conversation with, "Oh man!  Am I happy!  AH!  I love the world!".

Sure, he had a big house, and nice food, and interesting friends.  But I
think his wife, or his children, or his plan to vaccinate every child in the
world bring him more happiness than his money.

When you have a tidy sum, think about Bill or Carnegie.  Also, think about
when you were a child, and you had next to nothing in your name alone.  I
bet you were very happy then, weren't you?

*sigh*

It's very easy to get caught up in the money race, especially in such an
environment as Tech, where technology and capitalism intertwine as the job
market races out of control.  Take a breather, and look around at the things
that don't have a price tag associated with them, yet bring you the most joy
of all.

Wishing you a quick recovery,
-- 
George Perantatos - CS1311X TA - CS3500 TA - www.cc.gatech.edu/~zorba