In the world, there are happy people and there are unhappy people. There are wealthy people who are happy and there are wealthy people who are unhappy. There are poor people who are happy and there are poor people who are unhappy. If there are some of both kinds in both groups, then money must not be the end all, be all of happiness as some suppose.

What then can be some of the reasons for people to be one or the other. More specifically, what do happy poor people have that rich unhappy people don’t? If we were to calmly sit back and watch, there are couple things we would notice… 

Kids that often run around with lots of other kids, never seem to grow tired of playing. There are adults also that seem to visit each other a lot, even for no special occasion. One would notice they talk quite a bit. They joke, they laugh. Seems like these people are happy. 

So what about those that are not happy? How often do children that are unhappy go out and play? How often do adults that are unhappy get together with other people, joking and laughing? 

If one is wealthy, we can spend money buying “stuff” for some happiness. But, just like children who get lots and lots of presents, they quickly grow tired of what was bought. In fact, the more presents they get, the sooner they get tired of each thing they have gotten. It seems that, similar to drugs and alcohol, spending lots of money is a way of trying to fill an emptiness. And like them, it also takes more and more to get the same level of “high”. Life becomes less and less satisfying. 

On the social side, if there is lots of drama, if one is frequently arguing and fighting, or if we are constantly avoiding people to avoid the drama, how much fun can life then really be? Does eating more help? Does drinking more help? Does gambling more help?

If money were the best way to real happiness, then all wealthy people would be happy and all poor people unhappy. While it is true that people who have enough to do more than just survive tend to be happier than those who don’t, beyond the basic needs, human relations seem to be more important. Enjoying good company is something that we all appear to want. Indeed, people that get along well with other people, that is they enjoy good friendship and family relations, are those that are typically happiest. 

But if we put so much more time and effort to making and spending money, which becomes ever less satisfying, than into developing enjoyable relationships, how can we expect a better result? Such interactions cannot be bought. They can only be cultured from within the heart. 

So then, if history shows that a good social life makes for more happiness than lots of money, we have to ask ourselves, “How much time and effort, how many hours a day, am I really putting into developing enjoyable relationships?”