What's Your Definiition of Wealth? (I Don't Necc. Mean Money)

[gimmethesimplelife]

The other day I was at the Phoenix Art Museum utterly mesmerized by a new display they have there called Lifelike - where the art is all lifelike but is not what it looks like it is made of - and I was thinking - in this moment right here I am truly rich as I felt fully alive and all my senses seem to be engaged. And this has very little to do with money though it did take money to buy the membership to get in whenever I want to get in - after that, the meaning of wealth here seems to go beyond money for me. What's your definition of wealth? Rob

[Teacher Terry]

Good health, great family & friend relationships. Priceless:cool:

[Jilly]

The usual family and friends, but my true wealth, what I think of as abundance, is my work. Every rotten thing that has ever happened to me, a miserable and dangerous marriage, illness, my heart stuff, all the rest, have brought me to the work I have. I have been concentrated in social issues work for five years this coming June, and I recently was wooed by a DV shelter and after negotiating my hours down to part-part-time, I am in the middle of my fifth weekend working there. I have been asked by another social service agency to teach art with their clients.

I never dreamed that I could have this life. Today is my birthday and my life is the best present for which anyone could ask or dream. I believe that I am the richest, wealthiest and most abundantly blessed person on the planet.

Oh, and this has nothing to do with money, as I have very little money, just enough to pay my bills each month and sometimes have a little left over for extra groceries or fun with my grandchildren.

[awakenedsoul]

That's wonderful, Jilly! Glad to hear you are enjoying art and culture, Rob. My definition is having health, cash flow, basic needs met, peace of mind, right work and right relationships. I also feel that my pets and my hobbies bring me a feeling of wealth. Traveling through Europe with my work was a luxury. Taking lessons that develop my talents makes me feel wealthy. Cooking delicious meals is another thing that is priceless to me. Oh, and having a thriving garden/orchard gives me a feeling of abundance and gratitude...
Also, making the conscious decision each day to be happy and to appreciate all that I have.

[gadder]

A simple question from the OP, but I am having difficulty with it.

I think for me the word 'Wealth' is too poisoned by the likes of Trump/Immelda/Name-any-celebrity-on-People-mag. Wealth means you have way more money in the bank than you possibly need, and by that score I am very poor indeed. And I feel it, especially now, the end of the month.

Yet, as the other responders show, maybe a redefinition of 'wealth' is in order, for I have
- good health (at least compared to numerous neighbours with real issues)
- a good diet (frugal but substantial and very tasty nevertheless)
- varied interests and time to pursue many
- education
- and opportunities in a great country

Still, I cannot for now use the word 'wealthy'; but perhaps, ala Joe/Vickie, I can say I am closer to having 'enough' rather than say I am 'wealthy'.

[And Happy Birthday Jilly!!]

[catherine]

Well, you can't ask me a question like that and not have me running to Google. So I looked up the etymology of "wealth" and turns out it's from an Old English word, weal:

‘Wealth’ comes from the old English ‘weal’, which means ‘wealth, welfare, and wellbeing’. Weal is in turn related to the older word ‘wel’, meaning ‘in a state of good fortune, welfare, or happiness’.

So it started very broadly, and then probably after some economists got their hands on it back when capitalism rose, it probably became more associated with abundance of money.

I also think that it's hard to talk about wealth without thinking of prosperity, which is also closely linked. I can put an ecological spin on prosperity and consider it to be that which thrives--so if a plant is seeded in good soil and grows it may be prolific in its fruit--so it's "prosperous." Similarly, if we are able to take all our "talents"--our money, intellectual resources, native abilities, etc. and make them grow and increase exponentially, we are prosperous, or wealthy.

If we were in a tribe in which there was no money--no individual assets, but we all worked for the common good, as wealthy as the community would be, so would we be. There would be no one person who was wealthier than another, or poorer than another.

Interesting word, wealth. I guess I like the word "abundance" better to describe the non-economic wealth that I have. I have everything I need, and then some. So I guess I am wealthy.


ETA: Happy birthday, Jilly! And isn't it great how sometimes it's true that "at the end of the storm is a golden sky." I am so happy for you and the fulfillment you find in your work.

[Teacher Terry]

Like many of you here I also value my work and my 3 maltese a lot. They really add much pleasure to my life. I don't know how I forgot them!

[Jilly]

Three dogs? You lucky puppy!

Catherine, there is just no stopping you. ;)

[Gregg]

One huge problem with our society (IMO) is that we tend to define BOTH wealth and poverty in strictly monetary terms. My own life didn't start to simplify until I broke away from that. In the new version of me the definition is based on opportunity to pursue, well, happiness. To do things or learn things or interact with people that make me happy. The second part is freedom to engage in those pursuits without unnecessary roadblocks hindering me. The last part is about my options; do I have high quality options? That can be in anything from healthcare and housing to whats for dinner or what music do I want to listen to. Its not always about having a lot of options, I don't need 500 different kinds of salad dressing. Its about having a few good options and the freedom to pick which one works best. If I get myself into a position where those stars align then I am truly wealthy.

[Soundinjoy]

for me wealth is about being free to enjoy my life so...some signs of wealth
-a good night's sleep
-time spent with loved ones
-time to spend on things that make me happy/feel good/free time in general
-a full pantry
-enough $ for what I need
-a growing garden

[iris lily]

I love Gregg's answer: the freedom (time) to pursue interesting things that make me happy.

If I am normally content with life, and then on top of that I have high-quality options to pursue "happiness" (which I see as coming in bursts--no one is continually "happy" except for my dog)--that is great!

First comes contentment--that's my definition of life "wealth." Those options provide contentment. When I no longer work for The Man, having options each day for what to do are great. Having money to support those options is essential. But not too much money, that could be a burden.

[citrine]

I definitely have a very wealthy life....the opportunity to do what I love and the ability for that work to pay my bills. DH and I are able to live a very comfortable life, pursue the things that make us happy, have access to good care/food/shelter/comforts of life. I just have to remember this every day ;)

[awakenedsoul]

for me wealth is about being free to enjoy my life so...some signs of wealth
-a good night's sleep
-time spent with loved ones
-time to spend on things that make me happy/feel good/free time in general
-a full pantry
-enough $ for what I need
-a growing garden

Love it! I look forward to reading your posts.

[Spartana]

For me it's being healthy. Then freedom to make my own choices in life. Then relationships - family, friends, pets. Material wealth isn't even in the picture for me. As long as I have a tiny and safe roof over my head, a bit of food to eat, fresh water (and preferably a flush toilet too - yes I'm extravagant :-)!), and my health, freedom and relationships, then I'm wealthy!

[meri]

Freedom to live my life to the fullest.

It comes down to a lot of little and not so little things that enable me to do that:
- family to live for
- social and financial resources to meet the basic needs and provide for the family
- good health
- free country
- opportunities for personal growth
- fulfilling job
- ability to find happiness and gratitude
- seeing every day even with various troubles and missfortunes as a gift and priviledge and not as a chore or a granted thing
- mountains to cross and woods to wonder through



I would consider myself very poor without that and I feel very blessed for having those things or working towards them every single day.


Interestingly enough in my native language the etymology of the word for 'wealth' comes down to word 'god' It's a great reminder that the true wealth is a blessing and a gift from G-d, something much more than just money and gloss that the pop-culture is trying to sell us.

[awakenedsoul]

meri,

What a beautiful and deep post! Sometimes I forget how lucky we are to live in a free country. You sound like a very wise person!

[larknm]

To be close to the people and animals I care about and mountains and forest and sky
To have freedom of choice in the future (especially not to end up in a place where others make my decisions for me), some of which comes from money
To be able to live according to my beliefs/deepest values
To learn from those close to me the forms of kindness I can practice
To understand the world struggles
To be able to act

[razz]

Lots of good points made but for me, wealth is having enough shelter, safety, clothes, interests, friends/family and being able to make a difference with my life energy.