I remember back when started my first policing job, I was making just for $20, 000 a year. Back then, I figured that if I ever made $40,000 a year I will have had it made! I would be able to have the car and house that I wanted. Forty grand just seemed to be the benchmark that would mean that I had reached my life goals. That was fifteen years ago and since then, I went to another department that had much better pay. I got promoted, which came with a huge pay raise. Needless to say when I did our taxes last week, I had surpassed that 40 grand benchmark by a couple of dolars.
Funny thing is, even though I've have passed that mark where I thought that I would have everything I wanted, I still work extra jobs in order to bring in extra money. As a matter of fact, here in a couple of weeks the Royals will be starting a new season and I will be working their games for money in addition to my other off-duty job. Those two jobs are in addition to my regular police job. It's proven to be true that no matter how much money you have it won't be enough.
I am a very happy person. Thing is--it's not because of my salary. It's not because of the extra money my off-duty jobs bring in. Heck, now that I think of it, I've was happy when I was a kid and we were poor, living on welfare and food stamps. Money doesn't bring happiness (although it certainly doesn't hurt at times--lets be honest) But it is love that truly makes a person happy.
St. Josemaria said that "You need a heart which is in love, not an easy life, to achieve happiness." (The Furrow, 795) It is through love that you achieve happiness--both in this life and in the next. It isn't until that we realize this and give up trying to buy our happiness that we can be fulfilled. Happiness--we are all after it. Unfortunately, we all seem to think that money will get us there. Maybe it's $40,000. Maybe it's a Cadillac. Or a house with a three car garage and a swimming pool. None of that's going to do it. I don't know why we try. After all, the Beatles told us forty-five years ago that you "Can't Buy Me Love."
Has anyone else tried to find happiness through material goods?
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So very true. We have found we are happier in our small apartment with less income in a town we love close to our families than we ever were in a house with more income far away.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Now if I could just get our families to quit acting like they need to take pity on us...poor folks with lots of kids as we are...it drives me nuts. We have chosen to live very simply (especially lately by getting around with one vehicle) and my folks (and my husband's) act like we must be so miserable. But honestly, we aren't!
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ReplyDeleteI think people find that money is easier to find than love. Unfortunaately people put more effort into finding money, than Love. When you can find true love, your right,it is the most important thing,true happiness. I would rather have true love than money..but like I said money might be easier to find.There is a reason you can't buy love.
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