Money is Not Needed For Happiness
by Paul W.
(Bedford, IN, USA)
Spiky
Happiness in our small family was lost four years ago when my dad’s business crumbled in less than two years and we were pushed to the streets after paying the loan which dad took to run his business. His health became poor day after day and my mom couldn’t handle it.
I was 21 at that time just out of my college. I needed something or someone to help me out of this situation and to live a happy life again, because nothing made sense.
That time I thought money was the only thing that could bring happiness back to my family and worked hard every day, but didn't enjoy myself. So I bought second hand books which gave moral boost in positive mental attitude and one book which changed my life was "Think and Grow Rich" by Mr. Napoleon Hill.
I kept reading the book till I could understand it and almost memorize some parts, and then one day, the big AHA moment came to me. (This is why I think it's great to have the opportunity to share my story here, because Tamara says “Think and Grow Rich” was the first book she read for her self growth.)
After that I kept reading books on how to develop skills and how to become rich. That led me to read about Warren Buffet and his story. After reading about him and how he became who he is today, he became my role model and Guru.
I read day in and day out about how to make money in stocks like him and one day I read a paragraph in which he gives an answer to a college student that says... Happiness or success in life is having loved ones around you. That struck me hard.
His words changed everything for me. My idea that money was the source of happiness crumbled and I started feeling happier as that huge burden got off of me. I started being happy just for having my parents with me. Now I live in a decent small house with them, have a decent salary and I regularly invest in the stock market... and I feel happy most of the time.
Even though my investments are not successful all the time, I generally feel happy just to have my folks and all of our basic needs covered. Of course it would be great to have other things, but I know these things are not essential for my happiness.
I enjoy gardening and adopted three dogs. Their names are Leon, Puma and Spiky (that is Spiky in the photo). Every day I play with them for two to three hours and I feel good to be able to do that. My life is happy now, not because I have some money but because I know what is more important in life: the people who I love.
