How Much Is Enough?

A great question!

How much time and effort should we devote to the pursuit of material success? As we move up the economic ladder the pull to continue to the next level is difficult to ignore. We have been 'trained' by a culture of consumption to stay on the 'treadmill' and move on up! I'm not speaking about the people who work long hours, some of them two jobs, to support their families but to those who seem to pursue materialism and ignore the 'costs' A good example would be a mother who decides to go to work to get the new BMW, leaving her kids without proper supervision. Is that really worth it?

Life is short and unpredictable and often we find ourselves saying 'when I have more money I will do this or that, or when I have the luxury of taking time I will do this.' Let's face it, unless you are wildly successful, you rarely will feel you have enough. Therefore you must look deep, being true to yourself, to make decisions that the culture generally frown upon. Haven't we all 'criticized' what seem like crazy decision by some? "Did you hear about Joe?, He left that job at IBM to move to Texas and open a bakery? What is he nutz? His wife must be pissed!"

We need to provide time to smell the proverbial roses! We deserve time to pursue our hobbies and desires, yes DESERVE it. Do not allow society to keep you on the treadmill of economic goals if you cannot find the time to spend time with family and friends.

There is nothing more valuable than time, anyone over 40 years old will surely attest to that fact. Therefore we must properly allocate the time we have otherwise we will grow old being bitter and full of regrets.

I can assure you when you are say, sixty or seventy you will look back, NOT on that great year you made a ton of money, but on some experience that fulfilled you.

If you want to do something, don't wait till its too late. Its a cliche I realize but so very true. We must find the proper balance between a comfortable life and one that is made uncomfortable and unsatisfying by its single minded pursuit of materialism.