Which would you rather have: a small TV and big library or vice versa?

The famous French designer and businesswoman Coco Chanel said: “There are people who have money and people who are rich.” That is so true! I have had the opportunity to meet many people, from different countries, different religions, different cultures and social status. It was always clear for me that many of them were rich without having a significant bank account and some others who although they had an exceptional bank account they did not fall into the rich category.

There are certain countries which have a better quality of life whose inhabitants are not so happy. They live to work, have very few paid holidays a year and usually have more than one job. They are used to purchase lots of things, just to feel happier, as they have “more”. Many people are constantly comparing themselves with their relatives and friends. Who has the biggest TV? Who has the most expensive car? Whose house is the biggest? How many gadgets can I have so I can save time? My question is: do they ever stop to think about their happiness in life? They don’t, they are too busy working and don’t have time for such a stop. Some time ago I read a book called Momo, written by Michael Ende which says: “People never seemed to notice that, by saving time, they were losing something else. No one cared to admit that life was becoming ever poorer, bleaker and more monotonous. The ones who felt this most keenly were the children, because no one had time for them any more. But time is life itself, and life resides in the human heart. And the more people saved, the less they had.”

There are other countries whose inhabitants do not have so many temporal things. They need to share their TV because they are too expensive, they walk because cars are unaffordable, they share their houses because they cannot purchase a bigger one but they enjoy sharing it due to the fact the family continues together. They help each other when struggling. My question is: aren’t these people happier although they are not wealthy?  They are, they take the time to be happy and enjoy the little things in life.

I love the quote by Zig Ziglar, the American author: “Rich people have small TVs and big libraries, and poor people have small libraries and big TVs.”

Money is part of our lives, but we must not let money rule our life, or we’re ruined. I am the happiest person with only having enough money for my needs. That’s all I need.