Here I am. I have arrived at the senior stage in my life. I am barely able to make ends meet. I have no savings, no investments. I do not own any property, nor do I own a car or a bicycle. Still, I am happier now than I have ever been at any other point in my life, thus far.
One day, a friend asked me if I ever wished I was rich and if I was rich, what I would do with all my money. I had to ponder that one for a moment. In my reflections, I came to the conclusion that I had been what they call ‘filthy rich’ all my life. I also realized that I had been so busy living my life that I had rarely ever given any thought to money. Somehow, there was always enough to pay the bills, to eat, and once in a while to go for a modest holiday. Then I thought deeper and realized that I had to have been rich… absolutely ‘filthy rich’.
Because of my contributions to life, even in my sicknesses, many a doctor and many a nurse were able to make a good living for themselves and their families. They were able to educate their children because of me. The same for teachers. They made good livings for themselves and their families. I helped put gas in laborers’ cars so they could also feed their families. Because I always managed to eat well, I helped provide for the families who worked in the big chain grocery stores as well as many small ones. And then, there were all the delicatessens, the pastry shops and the restaurants that my contributions helped for those families have a good living. My contributions to the garbage collectors helped them feed their families. I ate fish so the fishermen could eat steak.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I was important to the very survival of others. I needed to be here. I had done so much for others and I had so much more that I needed to do. Then I thought deeper yet and realized that the list of those I have helped kept growing to include future generations beyond my own lifespan. The list can go on into infinity.
I have come to the conclusion that in order for me to have been able to accomplish all that and more, I had to have been ‘filthy rich’. Funny though, I never ever focused on money in my life. My primary focus was and still is on the quality of my friends and family. They are my greatest wealth. I would rather share a coffee and a good story with family or friends than know I have a dollar in my wallet.