My guest post on A Holistic Journey about cash, scratch, dinero. Check it out.
Does money buy happiness? I’m not sure, but I do know it bought the $200 dollar suit, $40 leather shoes, and $20 dollar hair cut I absolutely needed to get hired. Money bought the civilized means that erased condescension, the social capital to tell my wealthy coworker he was an idiot. To be poor and respected – that’s possible only with the credible threat of violence and most people seem to prefer I avoid the thug life.
My body is made of money. Money buys fresh vegetables instead of bulk Top Ramen, which is another way of saying it pays for my normal, unmedicated blood pressure and didn’t pay for my hypertension as a 19-year-old. It buys my trips to the gym for basketball and medical care when I break a foot or sprain a wrist. Money means I’ll be able to walk when I’m 70. It renders the cost…
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Ben Garrido's Author Page 
Thanks
You’re very welcome. 🙂
I read the original post you did for Holistic Wayfarer. Very interesting viewpoint, and as always, very thought-provoking 🙂
Thanks. 🙂 I’m glad I’m able to give you something worth thinking about.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. I feel like the thing in this world I’m actually good at is coming up with different answers. Not necessarily better answers, but different ones.
It makes me very happy to hear people like you find my efforts thought-provoking.
I hope you’re getting great shots of the turning leaves. 🙂
“It makes me very happy to hear people like you find my efforts thought-provoking.”
I am just so pleased you got to do what you enjoy, Ben, and speak to a receptive crowd. Was a worthwhile post. Be well.
HW
It was definitely fun. 🙂
I am challenged by this idea. It has been said that money cannot buy happiness but if happiness is circumstantial and related to things, then yes I agree on that part. On the other hand and in my opinion money does not guarantee health or the ability to walk. It will provide for the best health care or rather the option of better healthcare.
Also, everyone who is poor and respected does not have a life associated with thugness or violence. The media portrays rap artist with a coveted street credibility that is only desirous for those who crave the thug life. I think it is a highly overlooked double standard because a wealthy rap artist looses street credibility when he/she moves into a home with a mortgage payment that is equivalent to a month’s salary and more.
I’m glad this article challenged you. That was my biggest motivation in writing it. 🙂
The contents of this article come from my subjective experience. I’m sure it’s possible to be unhealthy and rich, but I’ve been able to do an awful lot of good for my body when I’ve had disposable income. There was a time when my football/wrestling injuries made it very difficult for me to walk, and that was in my early 20s. Got enough money for knee surgery and that problem vanished.
Same thing with respect. I’m sure some people can achieve respect without the threat of violence, but I never could. I tried being intellectual, but that resulted in people treating me like a curiosity, a funny little man too deluded to know his own lowness. I tried being friendly, but that was interpreted as slavishness. So I tried being really scary, and that worked like a charm. While I don’t particularly like the guy and I think he got more lucky than anything, guys like 50 cent, people who are beyond pity and willing to tear respect out by the roots, they are doing something I can deeply identify with.
Thanks for the comment.