The day kicked off with the all-too-familiar request for a pair of NIKE running shoes .. costing a small fortune .. The justification .. they were the golden ticket to the hallowed halls of the school running club .. The conversation? A meandering river of “Why can’t I have nice things?” and “But everyone else has them!” .. the classic plea of youth, all wrapped up in a bow of entitlement .. As the conversation meandered, it inevitably led to that omnipresent specter: money .. that glorified green paper—or the shimmering digits on our screens, if you’re one of those lucky tech-savvy souls—whose power looms over us more than we care to admit.
People often wax poetic about life’s purpose, claiming it’s about living fully, about feeling the exhilarating whirlwind of human emotions—joy, sadness, anger, and everything in between .. even I have written about it .. we play our societal roles as expected: the loving parent, the dutiful sibling, the tireless employee. It’s as if we’re all actors on a grand stage, delivering the performance of our lives, complete with dramatic monologues and poignant soliloquies. But have you ever paused to ponder who’s lurking behind the curtains? That unyielding force we can’t ignore: money.
Want to live your best life? Sure .. but first, let’s see the cash. Without it, those dreams of lounging on sun-kissed beaches or acquiring the latest iPhone that promises to revolutionize your existence remain just that—dreams. Even the most basic joys, like relishing a warm meal or securing a roof over your head, come with a price tag. Money, in all its complex glory, is the unsung hero of our existence. It forms the foundation of our lives, and as much as we might like to pretend otherwise, without it, our carefully constructed houses of cards will come crashing down.
Have you ever tried to embrace life’s full potential with an empty wallet? It’s akin to attempting to drive a car on fumes—not happening. I once fancied myself a rebel, armed with a collection of motivational quotes: “Money isn’t everything!” “Happiness is free!” Oh, really? Try telling that to my mortgage lender, who definitely doesn’t accept smiles as rent. Or to my internet provider, who firmly believes I owe them for my daily scroll through cat memes. Living paycheck to paycheck? It’s a real-life circus act—like walking a tightrope while juggling flaming torches. Sounds thrilling in theory, but the reality is more akin to a slapstick routine.
Sure, we cultivate our own financial desires. Some folks find contentment in the simplicity of just getting by, while others dream of private jets and golden bathtubs—because why not? Whatever our ambitions, we all require some form of currency to convert those lofty dreams into tangible realities. Money is the quiet yet commanding partner in every decision we make, every cherished experience, and every tear shed when the bills come due.
But life has a cruel sense of humor. It doesn’t give a hoot about your bank balance. It continues to toss curveballs your way—joy, heartbreak, divorce—whether you’re rolling in dough or scraping by with pennies. Money may lay the groundwork, but it’s not the entire structure. We can patch the cracks with laughter .. with love .. with that stubborn, unwavering spirit that drives us forward.
In effect, Money is the necessary evil that enables us to keep playing our parts in this beautifully chaotic theater we call life .. we are tethered to this relentless cycle of earning, spending, and dreaming. It’s absurd, really. We chase after an elusive happiness, believing that once we hit a certain financial milestone, all will be right with the world. But the truth is, happiness is a slippery little gremlin. It hides behind the curtains, waiting for the opportune moment to slip through our fingers, leaving us grasping at air .. The relentless pursuit of happiness often leads us down paths littered with frustrations and complexities. We become entangled in our own desires, caught in the web of expectations, and often lose sight of what truly matters. In a world so preoccupied with status and wealth, it’s easy to forget that the richness of life often lies in its imperfections.
We strive for that perfect education, perfect job, that water-front dream house, the shiny new car, while life continues its unpredictable dance. We find ourselves juggling obligations, expectations, and the never-ending quest for approval. We dump partners, neglect our family in the chase for something .. And in this chaos, we sometimes forget to just breathe, to revel in the simple beauty of being alive .. ignoring the fact that while money may run the show, it’s our hearts and souls that truly breathe life into it.