Dropping $100

[Martin Hash]

$100.jpg

A couple decades ago, and certainly now, I lost all interest in accumulating money as a way to measure my success. Money is super important when you’re trying not to have to work for somebody but after that, more money should only be in the pursuit of wisdom. I think where a lot of wealthy people that pursue public approbation, which is really narcissism. Achievements, accomplishments & self-awareness are the ingredients of wisdom but, unfortunately, almost everyone confuses wealth with wisdom. Charity is similarly misdirected. Most people think that giving money to charity, or working in a charitable capacity is admirable. Actually, if someone knows you donated money, then it’s not charity, and there’s nothing worse than working for somebody except working for somebody for free.

Between not chasing wealth for wealth’s sake and don’t sacrifice yourself for others is real virtue. A recent personal example will help explain it: I went to hear a local band. On the way through the ticket booth, I pulled out my wallet to pay for tickets. I had a $20 and a $100; there were 4 of us at $5 each so I used the $20. We all had a great time but when I went to buy a beer, the $100 was gone. I wondered where it had went to, and casually mentioned to the people I was with that I’d lost $100 along the way somewhere. All of them were concerned and had suggestions on how to recover the money but I never felt a sense of urgency or regret; I simply hoped somebody who needed it found it or if somebody who didn’t need it found it, they would give it to band. In a perfect world, everyone should be able to drop $100.