The dictionary defines wealth as:
1. - the state of being rich and affluent
2. - an abundance of material possessions and resources
3.- property that has economic utility: a monetary value or an exchange value
4.- the quality of profuse abundance
None of those definitions sound too bad, right? The quality of profuse abundance - I like that definition!
However, wealth as it is defined in the dictionary is only a small aspect of such a grand and often controversial word.
The definition of wealth can be quite divisive. Ask your family and friends how they define wealth and then sit back and enjoy the conversation! Ask any political candidate how they define wealth and you’ll get vastly different answers.
There is of course the capitalist definition of wealth which states that all wealth is earned, not distributed.
Conversely, socialism states that there is a more equitable distribution of wealth and wealth is better shared.
That being said, all political theories and ideologies aside, we know deep down at our core that there is more to ‘wealth’ than dollars in the bank.
Consider the following quotes:
“Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.”
-Henry David Thoreau
“Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.”
-Oscar Wilde
“Being rich is having money; being wealthy is having time”
-Margaret Bonnano
So wealth is:
- Having time
- Having health
- Having quality of life
- Possessing freedom
- Finding inspiration
- Having peace of mind
- Wealth is having compassion
- Being loved
- Loving
- And of course money in the bank – how much money in the bank is defined by you.
And so on and so on.
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