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Happiness is not to be found in fame & fortune

My Mother grew up literally dirt poor. She felt sorry for famous people, or people who sought fame. I grew up with that culture and internalized it. It means even more to me now as an eldergay than it did in years before. Now that fame seems so important in our culture. Wealth sure has its place, but super wealth does not bring happiness. If you’re not happy as a middle class person, you’re probably just not a happy person.

Happiness is found in good relationships with the folks around you. Once you have a decent income that covers your needs, plus a little, “more” is great, but won’t make you happier.

The desire for fame is the most inexplicable to me, still.

by Anonymousreply 18April 23, 2018 3:08 PM

Meghan Markle?

by Anonymousreply 1April 23, 2018 3:11 AM

My bf came from a wealthy family. In some ways I did not envy him. They were proof that money cannot buy happiness or peace of mind.

by Anonymousreply 2April 23, 2018 3:13 AM

[quote] Once you have a decent income that covers your needs, plus a little

This is the key phrase. If you don't have financial stability that will cause you constant stress and unhappiness. Money matters a lot of it you don't have enough to live comfortably.

by Anonymousreply 3April 23, 2018 3:14 AM

Agree with fame - don’t understand the desire. But until I have $5 million - so I don’t have to work - I won’t have enough money. Which means I never will have enough. Which means I will always be worried that I will run out before I die.

by Anonymousreply 4April 23, 2018 3:20 AM

I'm not looking for money to make me happy, I'm not happy now and that wouldn't change. I do want money because it gives you options and the freedom to do what you want. Financial burdens are the worst, some people commit suicide when they can't resolve them. Lots of money would solve those kinds of problems instantly and that's why I wish I had it. I'm sure no wealthy person would willingly give up their money and live a life of poverty and struggle if given a choice.

by Anonymousreply 5April 23, 2018 3:20 AM

It has been scientifically proven that, beyond ca. 500k a year, money does not increase a person’s well-being. Most people are even perfectly content if their basic needs are met (like housing, insurance, health and enough leisure time.) The super-rich are interested in making more money than they need, mostly because they’re power-hungry.

by Anonymousreply 6April 23, 2018 3:21 AM

Some of the most messed up families I know have money. Populated by lazy slackers, alcoholics and drug addicts. Money can be a curse and it alone doesn’t bring happiness or contentment.

by Anonymousreply 7April 23, 2018 3:51 AM

Please people .Money brings happiness.

by Anonymousreply 8April 23, 2018 3:55 AM

Money, when respected without greed, brings:

Opportunity

Freedom

Peace of mind

Options

Philanthropy

With money comes responsibility.

by Anonymousreply 9April 23, 2018 4:00 AM

Money is everything in this world, everything. Anyone who says different doesn’t have any. If I had 2 million dollars in the bank I would be happier than I am now and would be happy every day for the rest of my life. Happy Happy Happy!

by Anonymousreply 10April 23, 2018 4:09 AM

The problem isn't with actual fame & fortune. It comes with what you had to do in order to get it. The whole "deal with the devil" thing that spoils everything and haunts you. It's like doing (gay) porn. Sure, you get some cash, but you use that cash to make you forget what you have done in order to get said cash (like drugs, tattoos, shower your girlfriend, or boyfriend, with gifts, etc.). A lot of rich people are haunted by the things they do, and did, in order to get / stay rich. You totally see it the way they act (overcompensate, are mean, bitter, miserable, etc.)

I had a friend from a rich family who claims his happiest day in life was when his parents cut him off financially because he came out and refused to marry a woman from some other rich family (of course he managed to first create an exit strategy where he learned how to live within his own means with a new job, and place, his family couldn't fuck with).

by Anonymousreply 11April 23, 2018 4:20 AM

People with money being happy!

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by Anonymousreply 12April 23, 2018 4:26 AM

Earning 70k/yr. for happiness sounds about right.

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by Anonymousreply 13April 23, 2018 4:49 AM

Money doesn't make you happy, it just removes sources of unhappiness. It's harder than ever to be poor and happy, what with the disintegration of the social safety net, advertising everywhere rubbing materialism in your face, the class structure solidifying and contempt for the poor becoming widespread, and trash with money being held up as the cultural ideal. So yes, I do find that the more money I have in the bank, the less stressed I am and the happier I feel!

I know perfectly well that happiness is on the inside and is best found in things that have nothing to do with wealth 0r fame - beloved friends and family, your dog, nature, satisfying work, etc. But the fact is, in today's world, poverty can destroy relationships with those you love, and leave you unable to work or to find a place to live that'll allow dogs. So until society changes, it's goddamn hard to be happy without money.

by Anonymousreply 14April 23, 2018 7:47 AM

Yeah, r6, it’s closer to $70,000; not $500.000.

by Anonymousreply 15April 23, 2018 2:27 PM

Well stated, OP. Big money = big worries, with diminishing returns in happiness. Life is hard for everyone. Of course there are happy rich people, but they have been well trained from childhood with good role models in their lives. Good parenting can make all the difference.

"Without discipline, there's no life at all." -- Katharine Hepburn

by Anonymousreply 16April 23, 2018 2:40 PM

[quote] Who am I?

I tried to think of someone who had adopted such a philosophy, but mostly can only think of people famous for religious reasons, which is not my salient point.

by Anonymousreply 17April 23, 2018 2:53 PM

There are lots of famous and rich people who ARE ALSO happy.

As Bette Midler said, "It's lonely at the top, but it's lonely at the bottom, so you might as well be on top."

Or as Sophie Tucker said, "I've been rich and I've been poor, believe you me, rich is better."

by Anonymousreply 18April 23, 2018 3:08 PM
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