What Really Matters

I pinned the above photo to my "Words of Wisdom" Board on Pinterest last night. It is short and yet, so profound. It reminded me of my time in Palm Beach, FL. I spent many years attending the Galas and Balls that were the "wannabe events" of the season. I attended as the "girlfriend" to a dear friend of mine who has since passed away. He was a wonderful man, doctor, friend, and all-around good person. He was also a very private man who chose to keep his romantic life to himself. Without going into it, lets just say he kept a good front in public and I was part of that. Anyway, I was given the chance to be a part of a world I normally would not have seen. It was fun to dress as Cinderella for a night and to see how the other side lived :-)!

I've often heard stories of lottery winners, and how their lives were torn apart by the money. It is a sad reality that the thing they thought would bring them the most happiness, turned out completely opposite. On those eventful nights in my ballgown, I would be surrounded by people who had more money than I could ever hope to have in a lifetime...maybe two lifetimes :-)! And, these were not lottery winners. Oh no. These were the heirs to great fortunes that spanned centuries in the making. Some were "Nouveau Riche", but they were the minority. So, these folks had been raised to live in splendor, without a financial care in the world. They had luxuries at their fingertips and more options than most of us could imagine. And yet...they were empty. And, it seemed that so many of them were working that much harder to gain more. Oh yes, there were those few that showed a deep satisfaction and gratitude, and even joy. However, there were so many that simply didn't. They would sit stone-faced and solemn. They would throw empty compliments about the other one's gown, jewelry, hair, etc. but it was all so empty. I would task myself with making these people smile and open up before night end. Often times I would coax a smile and even a hearty laugh, but not always. It is in those few hours at a dinner table, and on a dance floor, that my heart would hurt for some of these folks. I wondered how their lives would progress along after that night. I wondered what miseries they faced at home, and if they really had love within those 4 walls. There was always gossip too, that was so telling. You would hear about who was cheating on who, who had a drug problem, who was getting the next latest-greatest surgery to fix another flaw, who was going to pay big money for tax evasion, who had children that were causing them huge grief, etc. You get the picture.

Now, I am not saying that having money (lots of it) is a bad thing. Believe me...I would take it :-)! What I am saying instead, is that "the love of money" is the issue, and making it your "God" is the bigger issue. I would much rather be poor, and yet filled with joy, gratitude and love. I have met some of the poorest people in the world. I have visited their meager homes, many of which had dirt floors and flies buzzing around. But, they would offer me a bowl of rice and a place to sit and chat. Their children, though dirty and tattered, were smiling and running around happy. There was a peace and a joy in those meager places, and anyone could feel it. I am not even sure that some of these folks would accept money and all it comes with, if you offered it to them. They were used to their life and didn't feel a need to change it.

Lastly, in the line of work that I am in now, I am constantly reminded how precious life is. Being in healthcare, I am surrounded by death and dying. I have met so many people that are in those final days and wish they could do things differently if given the option. They would not have worked so hard to have more things, but instead, they would make the time to spend with those they loved. In the end, we can't take it with us...all of those things and the items we worked so hard for. But, we can take our memories. We can cherish those special days and moments along our path. In the end, isn't that what really matters?