If you have lived long enough, there is a possibility that you’ve heard at least once — Money can’t buy happiness!
The statement makes me think every time I hear it! May be its a higher order statement applicable to enlightened species only! Money and Happiness are very important facets of our lives. Even if you claim you are not in active pursuit of these two, they are an integral part of your life. They are interwoven in the web of life. These two are active ingredients of the fuel that propels your engine of life. I struggle to comprehend that money can’t buy happiness. It can be true at times but cannot be taken as an absolute truth. It depends on how you define both — money and happiness.
I was waiting outside a restaurant for a table in a posh area of Marine Lines, Mumbai. Like me, there were lot of other people waiting to get inside the restaurant. The area was buzzing with people and I was sitting under a huge tree witnessing what was going around. There I spotted a young 9–10 year old girl selling some toys. My eyes followed her as she went from one table to another trying to sell the items to those who were waiting. She could not make a sale! Then she came to me as I was sitting nearby. She showed me how the toy works and told me how much it costs. Before buying anything, I tried to make a conversation with her. I asked her where does she sleep at night? She spontaneously pointed her finger across the road and showed me the shed on the footpath. I asked her if she goes to school? She said NO with an innocent smile! After few minutes of chat, I took out my wallet and as soon as I did that, her eyes lit up with a big sparkle as she realised that she got a sale!
She was happy. I was extremely happy.
What was the common medium that made us happy? — MONEY. It made both of us happy, one at the receiving and the other at the giving end. One can argue that its actually my intention to give and help the girl that lead to happy feeling. This is equally true however, money still played an important and indirect role in this. Not that I needed that toy, not that I had solved her life problems in its entirety, but it made me happy. It also made me realise that you don’t need lot of money to buy happiness. The intrinsic value of that toy was minimal.
The smile on her face is still intact in my psyche!
Wonderfull,
Thanks Parthiv Desai 😊
I can see a writer in you plus a keen observer of human emotions.I call that a blessing by god:)
Thanks Dhara..means a lot! Not sure about the writer in me comment but yes, I have keen interest in human emotions, behaviour and psychology in general. Thanks for reading😊👍
ખુબ સરસ અનુભુતિ અને અભિવ્યક્તિ..
Thank you 🙏