What is wealth?

[Blurock]

An American multimillionaire wants to sell his old life on eBay in order to start a new life. The deal includes his chain of computer game shops, two waterfront properties and cars, even the pet dog. He wants the money to go travelling with his wife.

Has he now realised that it is better to do and to experience things than to own things? In our capitalistic world people are often regarded according to the wealth that they have accumulated and display. Fancy houses, cars, clothes etc. When the s#!T hits the fan and there is no more bling, there is often an empty shell with no personality, or identity.

Is your personality determined by your suit and the people you imitate? What is your brand, is it Gucci or Versace or is it the unique person that you are?

[ians]

I am always in the sh#t with no bling, so i would have to say i fall in the unique person catergory . Sometimes i do wish i had the money and bling so i could sell up, retire and tinker in my workshop, make stuff and travel maybe once a year to a different location, while still young enough.

[Michellean77]

My definition of wealth is having money, but also more importantly. What is the use of all the money and bling if you don't have any time in which to enjoy it.

[Nickolai Naydenov]

Wealth is: health, the family you wished for and all the joys that come with that, doing what you enjoy doing, staying where you want to stay, be filled with happiness, not counting your money when you want to buy something I'm not even talking about being a multi-millionaire but the basics and some luxuries

[Citizen X]

My definition of wealth is peace of mind and simply being content. Hollywood and Adverts have plaved needs in us that we feel we simply must satify inorder to be happy.. I don't want the burden of wealth, but I also don't want to struggle. I don't have any big ideas about my self and I'm not even slightly impressed with positions, status, income and qualifications...

[tec0]

Wealth cannot be measured or counted once you realise that the most valuable thing one can own is time. See time is the one thing you cannot get back… every minute past is a minute lost forever. Every hour a fortune spend. Truth is time is everything because we only get to spend it once in a lifetime. Then it is gone...

[adrianh]

I want a sh1tload of money to do as I please when I please. To drive an Aston Martin DBS, fly a Falcon 2000 private jet, pilot an Agusta A109 turbine helicopter, drive a F1 car, Le Mans car, top fuel dragster, NASCAR race car, pilot a grand prix seagoing boat, fly a Edge 540 plane, take a cruise on a ocean liner, go to China, Tibet, tour the world, meet a king, kiss a princess, go to an opera, meet Richard Branson.....shall I carry on....

You just wanna get by, knock yourselves out....

Money doesn't buy you happiness but it sure enables you to be unhappy in exotic places.

You lot are mentally poor - you limit your own horizons with your own limiting thought.... I am mentally wealthy, I am content with only one thought an that is to learn more, experience more, do more, be more, have more, create more....


I couldn't be bothered to imitate anybody, I have way too much going on in my own head. Brands do not equal quality but in general quality doesn't come cheap.

[tec0]

I want a sh1tload of money to do as I please when I please. To drive an Aston Martin DBS, fly a Falcon 2000 private jet, pilot an Agusta A109 turbine helicopter, drive a F1 car, Le Mans car, top fuel dragster, NASCAR race car, pilot a grand prix seagoing boat, fly a Edge 540 plane, take a cruise on a ocean liner, go to China, Tibet, tour the world, meet a king, kiss a princess, go to an opera, meet Richard Branson.....shall I carry on....

You just wanna get by, knock yourselves out....



Money doesn't buy you happiness but it sure enables you to be unhappy in exotic places.

You lot are mentally poor - you limit your own horizons with your own limiting thought.... I am mentally wealthy, I am content with only one thought an that is to learn more, experience more, do more, be more, have more, create more....


I couldn't be bothered to imitate anybody, I have way too much going on in my own head. Brands do not equal quality but in general quality doesn't come cheap.

There is nothing wrong with my imagination and I play flight simulator games because I to love aircraft. I would like to own a few pieces of history and would love to go to Iceland… Ask anyone that knows me, my head is always dreaming up new ideas… But realistically time is irreplaceable thus the most valuable thing you own.

[adrianh]

Ah you see the difference between you and I, you call it imagination and I call it an attainable goal.

Do you see the difference between between being mentally wealthy and not being mentally wealtlhy?

I am satisfied with the way I use my time, I am a master of my own destiny and having a truckload of money will enable me to to make even better use of my time.

[gac]

I truly admire 2 friends of ours who go on an exploratory road trip (Cape, Namibia, Botswana, Zim) every year and recently took their 2 kids on a "hike" up Everest. Their attitude is they don't want to be slaves to money and would far rather not be obsessed with accumulating wealth but enjoy themselves while they can. They're not wealthy but choose to spend their hard earned money accumulating memories, which they also can't take with them I agree but are having a lot of fun accumulating.

[ians]

Ah you see the difference between you and I, you call it imagination and I call it an attainable goal.

Do you see the difference between between being mentally wealthy and not being mentally wealtlhy?

I am satisfied with the way I use my time, I am a master of my own destiny and having a truckload of money will enable me to to make even better use of my time.

So tell us your secret, maybe you could inspire some of us less fortunate folk.

[adrianh]

I used to be a corporate slave working in IT. I gave it up about 10 years ago and started my own business. My wife and I work together and we work from the house. My work and hobbies are one and the same so I don't work as such, I simply enjoy what I do. We are a close family and the kids are around the house or we are out with them. My daughters are both very creative, active and intelligent. The family spends a lot of time debating and talking and although we have 6 computers runnning and we sit with our backs to one another we still talk all the time. Look, we are not financially well off (yet), but the thng is, we do it together. The interesting thing about our family is that the harder things become the closer we become. My daughters know how to make do and they don't demand a lot of stuff. The little one's life revolves around horses, doesn't matter what, ride them, collect pictures, draw them etc. My eldest is extremely bright and she spends her days on the internet. She's heavily into K-Pop (South Korean music) and she has researched thier history, culture and even their religions. Both my girls are heavily into figure skating and spend many many hours at the rink. (My wife is the club treasurer and 2IB) My wife is a qualified heavy current technician and she is an extremely practical person. We have an interesting relationship in that we don't have male / female roles per se. When I'm busy then she'll run the laser or CNC and when she's busy I fetch and carry the girls. You see, I am happy with the way I spend my time, I love what I do and do it 24/7. I live, dream and play at the things that I love. The kids are always close by and they are part of what we do. I am in control of my destiny, I choose the work that I do and I choose the markets that I service. If I die without having accumulated vast wealth then that is ok because I am satisfied with what I do each day. And if I do accumulate vast wealth then I will make sure that I and those around me, family, friends and employees all get to enjoy it.

[Blurock]

I truly admire 2 friends of ours who go on an exploratory road trip (Cape, Namibia, Botswana, Zim) every year and recently took their 2 kids on a "hike" up Everest. Their attitude is they don't want to be slaves to money and would far rather not be obsessed with accumulating wealth but enjoy themselves while they can. They're not wealthy but choose to spend their hard earned money accumulating memories, which they also can't take with them I agree but are having a lot of fun accumulating.

I admire people like this. They are the ones who enjoy life to the fullest. They can make a banquet out of the simplest picnic. They do not have to own or wear the bling to impress people. They are usually good listeners, but can tell the most amazing stories about their experiences to those who are willing to listen. They are not interested in titles or positions, but make natural leaders whenever there is a crisis.

The reason for this is that they are at peace with themselves and do not need other people or things to make them happy. I believe that these are the only people with a real identity. They are their own brand, the others are all pretenders.

[wealth2012]

Very interesting post. Well people have different definition about what wealth is. For instant in Africa some people don't have all the money and materials wealth that most of the people in the West have, but these Africans are happier and the family values stay inact. This is something we have lost in the West. We are so focused on money, career, and the fine things in life that we are losing the losing in Spiritual values and family values. Finding your true identity and knowing who are with a clear vision of what you in this life can also create wealth of well being and happiness. Nothing wrong with materials wealth and we all deserve it but with no peace mind then that wealth is a drain on your health and your true self. Let's focus on all parts of wealth. 1. Having a purpose for life 2. Good health 3. Good family values 4. And spiritual development. Hope my response will help the great people of this forum.

[Just Gone]

For instant in Africa some people don't have all the money and materials wealth that most of the people in the West have

@wealth2012 .... I would like to just correct or let me say comment on your above statement. Not sure at all what you are saying above - are you saying that MOST people in the West have wealth ??? ....... because you are wrong with that statement - I would probably say that a lot of people in the west have wealth ..... but certainly not "Most" . You also say that in AFRICA some people dont have money ........... sure SOME people dont have money in Africa, but some people dont have money in the West either. But there are also a LOT of people in Africa that have wealth and some of those people may even have more wealth than the west !!
I'm not sure if you are one of those people that believe that Lions roam our streets here in "Africa" ..... perhaps you arent, but we here in SA are quite a civilized country with plenty of "wealth". And if you are one of those people thinking that animals roam around freely - let me tell you a secret ...... they dont ......... they are kept in game reserves and zoo's . But I'm sure you arent - maybe you have even visited our beautifull country ?