what does wealth mean to you?

Philippines
August 3, 2011 12:05am CST
Most people believe that wealth symbolizes "mucho dinero" and having all the expensive things that money can buy." But, I beg to disagree. Wealth, to me, means better things than money. Oh well, I'm not saying that I do not need money, we all do. Money, though, is but a tool. Wealth could mean rich in ideas, character, good health, love, valuable experience, positive attitude like kindness, respect, courtesy, desire to help others, empathy, compassion, etc. Obviously, when one has money, he is able to help others financially. But then again, there are other ways of helping, like giving up your bus seat in favor of the disabled, opening doors for those who are carrying loads of stuff,listening to someone who is down the dumps, giving an opinion when asked, tutoring someone who asks you to, giving solicited advice... When we do what we feel is right, we feel blessed with joy.
2 people like this
25 responses
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
4 Aug 11
hi bamikalipal wealth to me means more like a wealht o f ideas and the urge to write and to get p ublished not for money b ut toshow me I did have talent after all. wealth is being able to see all the lovely world around me and smell the scent of all the gorgeous flowers here in c alif and to hear the sweet song of the birds and hear the giggles of a happy child playing in her yard. Wealth is my best friends and my son co ming to see me.wealth to me is the compassion I see when my fellow residents here are hurting . compassion is not in every one so when we have a little we need to culitivate it as we may one day need it from others. I needed the evening when I fell hard and was seriously injured., I had at least five people all doing different things to try to help me until the paramedics arrived. the first lady was the little mexican lady who served the water glasses and she had two big towels and was mopping up blood from my face and then too she went and good our Christine wo takes cae of injuries here an she also called the parmedics. Compassion shone on very ordinary evryday faces then. I am wealthy in non money ways.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
4 Aug 11
sorry typos forgot edit should be she went and got our Christine who takes care of injuries here and she also called the paramedics.
• Philippines
5 Aug 11
typos don't matter and won't take away your wealth of kindness and compassion. you seem to be an optimistic person, a lover of nature and of people and their positive attitude. Your kind deeds were rewarded by the kindness of the people who helped you when you fell. I hope you are feeling better now. Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with us. God bless you always Hatley.
• China
4 Aug 11
I bet you are a rich person. Once one gets wealth, they will talk in your way. Sure, there are still some people that live happily everyday even if they don't have money. But they are so few. And the reality is so cruel. America is much much more developed than China. We have a large number of people still living in poverty. I was born in a countryside. And I had been doing farm works for a long time. In my village, we all have different problems. And the root cause is money. Sometimes only money has the power to change things and better life.
• Philippines
4 Aug 11
No, lbygh, I am not a rich person. Honestly, I belong to the lower middle class, but I also long for things of the heart and mind. Yes, you are right, money can make positive change and better things, especially for people who live in skid row. I wish you luck, fellow mylotter and thank you for expressing how you feel.
• China
4 Aug 11
Thank you for your responses. I hope you can find your own happiness.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
3 Aug 11
it means enjoying the simple things in life like enjoying time with family,, walking on the beach or doing thbings that i like to do like read or craft and of course spending time with my family.
• Philippines
4 Aug 11
Yes, enjoying the things you love to do is wealth in itself. I wish you joy and happiness always, cher913.
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
5 Aug 11
I pray that many people will read what you wrote and absorb it into their own thinking, and that they will put those thoughts into action.
• Philippines
5 Aug 11
Thank you bellis! You are a blessing.
@jazel_juan (15747)
• Philippines
4 Aug 11
Wealth is not limited to money alone. Wealth for me means my children and my husband and the people i love.
• Philippines
4 Aug 11
Having your family and their love makes you wealthy. It inspires you to earn money for them as well. God bless you jazel... and thanks for sharing your ideas.
@06MLam (620)
3 Aug 11
Money is definitely only a tool to me and it can help to satisfy more of my demands but not all of them. Even wealthy people cannot satisfy all their demands with money! Money cannot give as much satisfaction as I can get from finishing something challenging. Therefore, money can only increase my living standard but cannot make me satisfied as some other things can.
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Finishing something challenging is being able to accomplish a lofty goal. 06MLam, that makes you a wealthy person!
@06MLam (620)
3 Aug 11
Maybe, but I do not care whether I am wealthy or not. I just want my goal to be achieved which has nothing to do with money.
@airasheila (5454)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Good day Bamikalipal, Wealth means a lot for me. Money and my loved ones. To have them both connotes wealth for me. I cannot be complete without them.
• Philippines
4 Aug 11
Money to use to make your loved ones happy is money well spent and money that brings wealth in it true form. When your complete, your wealthy, indeed. Thank you for sharing this with me girasheila. God bless you and make you completely joyful.
• India
3 Aug 11
Hi bamikalipal You are correct that wealth is not symbolize only money. I think money is a part of wealth. Wealth is a more wider term. For me wealth includes the happiness, joy, fun with kids, love, blessings of elders, helping the needy etc. Now for me the wealth is my family, my kids and i am trying my best to keep my family healthy and happy.
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Hi meenalkadian, I can see that we're on the same page. Me too, making my family safe, healthy and happy is what I want most.
• China
3 Aug 11
I have looked up the dictionary,by"wealth" it is understood that it means a large amount of money and possessions.Obviously money is part of the wealth,however you added the moral and spirit to the wealth.I get what you meant.What you want to say is that Not every rich man is wealthy in spirit and we don't also identify happiness with wealth.I fall in with you.
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
hi changjiangzhibin89, thanks for sharing your ideas, you're sharing your wealth with me as well.
1 person likes this
3 Aug 11
Wealth means richness...you can do a lot of things like touring around the world, be part of the elite group, being popular and powerful, can eat on fabulous restaurants and can buy all the things they want. Being wealthy is being fortunate. Wealth means life to me.
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Thank you for your input, fritz. Whatever makes you happy in life, that is already wealth and contentment in itself.
@Jacruz25 (1124)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
that is very true. wealth is not just about money and assets it more about what is with in someones heart. I also consider intelligence and talent as wealth and many more. But most importantly, for me wealth is inside someones heart. There are many more things that are priceless and is more important than money. Wealth ? money!
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Thanks Jacruz25.The priceless things are the things that give you real joy.
• China
3 Aug 11
hi,bamikalipal,i couldn't agree with you more, wealth means not just money which is not everyting but many things you mentioned.
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
We seem to think alike, thank you so much hanjianb0615.
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Wealth is meant to be shared. It does not mean money alone but a lot of things greater than that. It comes in many forms, as a teacher I share my wealth of knowledge to my students. Its fulfilling when these are shared.
• Philippines
4 Aug 11
Exactly astroversion! Sharing gives you a wealth of satisfaction. Your students are indeed lucky to have you. Thanks a mil for sharing this with me, it's greatly appreciated.
@jmay1226 (97)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Yes, I agree wealth is a very broad word. Most of us quote this us money but if we really are thinking if what does wealth really mean then I agree with you bamikalipal.. it's worth a gold but not money.. It is how we live and how we build our relationship with our family and others. It is our character and positive outlook in life...
• Philippines
4 Aug 11
Character and optimism go hand in hand jmay, you're right. You are what you are and what you think. What you believe, you achieve. God grant you the very best, my fellow mylotter.
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
5 Aug 11
Hi bamikalipal, True wealth has nothing to do with money. It is rather about having good friends and a happy family life. It is about good health and all of the other things that you mention here. Many people who have a lot of money are not wealthy at all. Blessings.
@meticulo (1286)
• United States
3 Aug 11
Wealth if describe literally means money but if we are to see it as a whole it simply implies abundance of valuable possessions whether materially, financially or even spiritually. To some people his wealth is his family. For without them, he will be nothing. He value them so much that he will be like a paralyze man if he will lose them. So as with some who value his health and consider it as his wealth. How can he work and fulfill his everyday chores if he is so weak to do it. If one has the love for others. It is his wealth to help them. He value being of help to others. That makes him wealthy. Some people consider friends as his wealth. He will fight for them and do everything to sustain their friendship to make it work. Wealth is everything a person desires or value that he will treasure for the rest of his life.
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Being able to have what counts in your life is wealth. You're right, meticulo, thank you.
@SIMPLYD (90727)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Just like you, wealth to me doesn't have to be having lots of money. Wealth for me is being happy and contented in life. For me, my wealth now is my husband and daughter. We are a happy family and that is what is wealth to me.
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
I am glad that you are happy, simplyd. Looks like we're tuned in to the same channel. Thanks for sharing.
@mythociate (21438)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
5 Aug 11
None of that 'blessed with joy'-junk means anything if you don't have friends in Christ. The richest man I ever heard of was either Oklahoma-legend Will Rogers or Oklahoma-singer Garth Brooks, Rogers because he "never met a man he didn't like," and Brooks got "more money than he could spend" ALL from his "Friends in Low Places." If you build 'it,' 'he' will come. ('friendship' and 'Uncle Pennybags,' respectively)
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
3 Aug 11
You are so correct. I have been both financially struggling and financially well off. Knowing both guarantees that one understands money doesn't buy happiness. Money gives you freedom. Happiness can be achieved anywhere under almost any circumstances. One of the most important things to remember is to share and help others when you reach financial freedom. Some forget that and their wealth is not nearly as satisfying as it should/could be. Wishing you health and happiness and wealth ?
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Thanks a lot, stary1, you too. I wish you a wealth of joy. Sharing your blessings will return to you a hundredfold.
@gidz0518 (194)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
For me, Wealth is not only deals with money. There's a lot thing that deals wiht wealth. For example "Health is wealth", which is absolutely true. What will you do in your money if you are bed ridden because of sickness. Money will just pop like a bubble instead. "Love is also wealth", well, if you are a rich person but there's no people loving you, then what's the use of your money. For me, there's a lot of things to be wealth of, not just money.
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
You're right, gidz0518, there's more to life than money. Love is a vital part of happiness. With love, you can be inspired to make more money for your needs. Thank you.