Riches

Financial wealth is one way to measure riches.  But checking that box doesn’t guarantee a person is fulfilled.  There's a cap on how much money will improve your long-term happiness.  Once basic needs are met, with enough money to make ends meet, wealth's relationship to happiness often flattens.  

Intangible riches are more commensurate with happiness.  Redirecting your priorities, having an appetite and capacity to enjoy life’s resources and treasures, adopting a lens of gratitude—provides the true riches in one’s life.

To be open to human interaction is to be vulnerable.  Every day you take the chance that heartbreak or tragedy can hit unexpectedly.  But they say the depth that we experience love is in equal measure to the depth of heartache and pain we can endure.  And the rewards—the richness of life, the emotional fulfillment, and pure enjoyment of family, children and friendships—are immeasurable and are only had by those willing to take the risks.   

 
The marvels and sights of nature can be breathtaking and add a sense of wonder to your days.  The sky, waters, mountains, forests and meadows are an ever-changing magic show.  The creatures that inhabit every corner of the earth are a fascination.  You don’t have to be a scientist or explorer to discover and learn new things every day.  You can be a walker or a gardener and experience nature.  The secret is to be observant and curious. 

 
The world is full of beautiful things that feed the spirit.  Between art, literature and music, everyone should find a passion in one and be able to appreciate the others.  The physical creativity that produces works of art is awe-inspiring to most of us.  The depth of human understanding and expression in literature is boundless and endlessly rewarding.  And music, with its mood-inducing variety, can be soothing, invigorating, and stir any human emotion.

It’s a poor person who hasn’t experienced the satisfaction of hard work.  And perhaps an even poorer one who doesn’t know how to enjoy play.  These can take many forms.  Work can be physical or intellectual and play can be sports or active relaxation.  It’s the hard work that enables the hard play—and the exhaustion and refreshment of both provide balance in one’s life.  
 
It’s not enough to experience--realizing value is in the appreciation.  What are the small daily things that add pleasure to your life?  Do you love a hot bath or to climb into your bed?  Do you relish time to yourself when everyone is asleep?  Do you love to relax with a good book, or go for a brisk walk?  Do you enjoy fashion?  Are you enthusiastic about food?  Do you love the smell of coffee in the morning, the taste of a crisp fall apple?  All these—and many more—add richness to our lives.  They’re what money can’t buy.