Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Money Ain't Everything


Here's a story that backs up something I've been saying for about 4-5 years now. Back around 12 years ago, I started making some damn good money, only problem was that it stressed me out and made me lazy in a lot of areas. For the last few years, my income got chopped in half, literally. Funny thing, I can't remember a time where I have been this content. Thus, money can't buy happiness. I'd also like to add that it makes you lazy and selfish(maybe not as a whole, but definitely in certain areas).

Enter this guy, Karl Rabeder, who sees things much like I do. He made a million dollar fortune, but it didn't make him happy, so he gave it ALL away. From the article:

"My idea is to have nothing left. Absolutely nothing," he told The Daily Telegraph. "Money is counterproductive – it prevents happiness to come."

Instead, he will move out of his luxury Alpine retreat into a small wooden hut in the mountains or a simple bedsit in Innsbruck.

His entire proceeds are going to charities he set up in Central and Latin America, but he will not even take a salary from these.

"For a long time I believed that more wealth and luxury automatically meant more happiness," he said. "I come from a very poor family where the rules were to work more to achieve more material things, and I applied this for many years," said Mr Rabeder.

But over time, he had another, conflicting feeling.

"More and more I heard the words: ‘Stop what you are doing now – all this luxury and consumerism – and start your real life’," he said. "I had the feeling I was working as a slave for things that I did not wish for or need. I have the feeling that there are lot of people doing the same thing."



I triple dog dare all you rich fat bastards to follow this guy's example. After all, it ain't socialism if it's self imposed, think about it.

I am the Complaint Department Manager and I approve this (self imposed)redistribution of wealth.

5 comments:

Jack said...

Who you callin' rich? Not all us fat bastards have money pouring out our ears.

The CDM said...

Diet A&W damn near went through the nasal cavity when I saw this.

I done heard that someone ain't so fat no more. Besides, you were big boned.

Sue said...

Great story, C!

I have lived paycheck to paycheck and I have lived years where I could buy anything my heart desired. Now I am back to learning money does not rule my life and I don't need any more "things" to make me content. It's gonna take a little time for me to stop "wanting" to spend just because I could. I keep telling Kim, stop fearing money, and you will start living.

Anonymous said...

Can't buy $200.00 a piece batteries for my son's processor if I don't have money. If I can't buy him batteries, he can't hear, and that would suck.

Sky Girl said...

Interesting.