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I’d rather die happy than rich.

nala

Ideal_Rock
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Oct 23, 2011
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What’s your quote to live by?
 
Inhale.
Exhale.

Repeat.
 
Must you choose between being happy and rich?

It's true that above a certain threshold, additional wealth does not add much or even any additional happiness (I think this is the "marginal utility of money.") But dipping below a certain threshold strongly associates with misery.

Being happy must mean that you have at least "enough."
 
Must you choose between being happy and rich?

It's true that above a certain threshold, additional wealth does not add much or even any additional happiness (I think this is the "marginal utility of money.") But dipping below a certain threshold strongly associates with misery.

Being happy must mean that you have at least "enough."

I cannot agree more, but unfortunately, it is never "enough"...
 
Happiness is something to do, someone to love and something to look forward to.

happinessis.jpg


and one more.
Sing like no one's listening
Love like you've never been hurt
Dance like nobody's watching, and

Live like it's heaven on earth

sing.jpg
 
As stated in my signature: live life like a dog - if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p!$$ on it and walk away.

DK :))
 
Must you choose between being happy and rich?

It's true that above a certain threshold, additional wealth does not add much or even any additional happiness (I think this is the "marginal utility of money.") But dipping below a certain threshold strongly associates with misery.

Being happy must mean that you have at least "enough."

This works for me! Doesn’t have to be a quote that you live by!
But I will give you insight into my middle class perspective: any money spent on entertainment, frivolity, acts of generosity, even—-is an opportunity cost of money not invested. Even money not earned by being a stay-at- home parent, or by choosing free time over working overtime or another job or a better paying job that is not as enjoyable—these also qualify as opportunity costs. Luckily, I am comfortable enough to do both now to an extent—but I am grateful that I always kept a great balance and leaned towards happiness.
If I add up all the money that I could have invested for the past 23 years instead of the memories that I created by traveling with my DD—I would be wealthier but I doubt that I would be as happy bc those memories are priceless! I could have easily generated more wealth by taking promotions but I declined then so that I could spend more time with DD. I can look back now on how I was able to pick her up from work, make dinner as she did her homework and then we wandered off to Disneyland on a Tuesday evening.
Also, at some point I went through a divorce—and chose this road even if it meant that my finances would be cut in half. But I know many in the middle-class who choose misery over a divorce bc they know that a divorce leads to poverty or they refuse to pay alimony or etc.
My good friend finally gave up on her marriage after 25 years. She has to start all over again from zero—-due to some bad investments that HE made. And sadly, she spent her whole marriage trusting that he was setting them up for an early retirement and giving up all the little luxuries in life.
Her story is not unique. I have a friend who stays in his unhappy marriage for fear of splitting all their assets and changing his lifestyle. I can go on and on, but hopefully you see what I mean. I know that I am blessed now—but that doesn’t mean that always the case so I haven’t lost sight of this quote bc you never know!
 
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Hahd tellin', not knowin'.
You can't get theah from heah.

Ayuh, veritable pearls of NE wisdom.

I've never really adopted a personal motto. I've always liked this quote.

"In Maine we have a saying that there's no point in speaking unless you can improve on silence."
~Edmund Muskie
 
3DE0A3EC-BD60-4592-AE99-B553FA698830.jpeg

Maybe this is the opposite of what @nala meant in her first post, and what she described as the situation with some people she know subsequently in post #10?
 
Try not to worry about things outside of your control, it doesn’t change anything and only makes you crazy.

Also something I tell the kids regularly:

Not everyone is going to like you and that’s okay, don’t worry about them, focus your energy on the people who do.
 
Just responding to the title of the thread...

One doesn't preclude the other, though, does it? Can't I die happy AND rich? It doesn't make sense to associate wealth with unhappiness, just as it doesn't make sense to associate non-wealth with happiness.

Having said that, it does often seem that rich people (read rich celebrities) have many more problems than you'd think for people who have the resources to fix many things that the non-wealthy don't.

But I think this post title comes from the fact that most of us can't stand to think that rich people might be really really happy. That's just too unfair!

If I came into vast riches, I don't think the bump in happiness I'd receive would be at all commensurate with the scale of the riches. Yes, I'd have a nicer home and probably buy a bit more jewelry, but it wouldn't solve most of the things I worry about, like my macular degeneration and my strong family history of cancer.

And the trouble with having a big home is that you can only be in one room at a time!
 
Just responding to the title of the thread...

One doesn't preclude the other, though, does it? Can't I die happy AND rich? It doesn't make sense to associate wealth with unhappiness, just as it doesn't make sense to associate non-wealth with happiness.

Having said that, it does often seem that rich people (read rich celebrities) have many more problems than you'd think for people who have the resources to fix many things that the non-wealthy don't.

But I think this post title comes from the fact that most of us can't stand to think that rich people might be really really happy. That's just too unfair!

If I came into vast riches, I don't think the bump in happiness I'd receive would be at all commensurate with the scale of the riches. Yes, I'd have a nicer home and probably buy a bit more jewelry, but it wouldn't solve most of the things I worry about, like my macular degeneration and my strong family history of cancer.

And the trouble with having a big home is that you can only be in one room at a time!

Read my response to Lil Alex… in short—plight of the middle class, opportunity cost, or use your imagination to see how you can spend all your wealth before you die in a way that makes you happy rather than leave it all for others to dispose of. And no—I don’t have issues with rich people being happy but I guess you do.
 
Hi,

I think my thinking and feeling can be best expressed by feeling gratitude for my life, the good and the bad. Each part, the good or the bad teaches you something about yourself or life that gives it breadth and understanding. I love life, and I know that as a woman I have experienced more than women of any other generation. I have lived in the best of times.\ I have lived a rich life.

With Gratitude,
Annette
 
Never live beyond your means.

I’ll go one further.
Live well within your means.
That gives me peace of mind.
Which is priceless.
 
HI:

Because I'm worth it.

Oh and the floss your teeth thingie. For sure.

cheers--Sharon
 
HI:

Because I'm worth it.

Oh and the floss your teeth thingie. For sure.

cheers--Sharon

Hello!
I also am a crazy tooth flosser and I love your "Because I'm worth it."
Reminds me in one of my favorite movies "Working Girl" when Sigourney Weaver tells Melanie Griffith that she plans to get married to Harrison Ford because she "cleared the month of June.. and I AM ME!" I love that line!
Also I live by to never forget how blessed I am and to be the kindest person I can be.=)2
 
Hello!
I also am a crazy tooth flosser and I love your "Because I'm worth it."
Reminds me in one of my favorite movies "Working Girl" when Sigourney Weaver tells Melanie Griffith that she plans to get married to Harrison Ford because she "cleared the month of June.. and I AM ME!" I love that line!
Also I live by to never forget how blessed I am and to be the kindest person I can be.=)2

Hello friend. Your reply to me comes at a time when I really need it. Thank you.

Kindness and compassion = everything.

And that dental floss comes in handy when rings are stuck on fingers!!! BONUS!!! LOL.
 
“As long as you’re going forward, you’ll get there”.

When I was 16 and newly licensed, my dad would tell me this every day before I left the house. He was specifically talking about the fact that we lived in Northern Minnesota, and the weather was horrible in the winter 99% of the time. He was deathly afraid I would speed and go off the road and die. So he always reminded me that as long as I was going forward, despite the speed, that I would get where ever I needed to be going.

Now I use that motto for life, and think of my dear old dad who drives slower and slower every day <3
 
This is such an motivational, positive, uplifting topic!!

I don't think I have any one quote I live buy. I do know Life is precious and tomorrow is not guaranteed...so I dance like know one is watching.

I always tell my son: Treat others the way you want to be treated. If you put good and positive vibes out there...it comes back to you ten fold when you least expect it and need it most.

In general, there is so much loss and negativity in the world that I tend to gravitate toward people,activities, and things that keep me laughing and bring me joy daily.
 
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