In Hot Pursuit of Money
It was very rare for my elder brother to call me in the morning hours. So, when I received his call on a frosty morning, I knew there must be something quite unusual. He had a sad news; a mutual friend had a massive heart attack, and died under the surgery. He and my brother had been friends for almost forty years. I also had come to know him very well – We had worked together on a few business deals.
He was an incredible character.
We rarely see such an insatiable thirst for money – His talk and thought were always about making more money. Money was his life – He slept money, and he breath money. He did permit neither friendship nor family to stand between him and “his” money. His family had practically abandoned him, and the only friends still in contact with him were just his business contacts. He was the most successful businessman in our group – owned a large mansion, a few millions in cash, and a couple of luxury automobiles. He suffered from a plethora of diseases, acute depression and, was a very bitter and sad person.
I felt sad, too. The poor guy never got the taste of happiness in his life. He never had the chance to sit down, relax and connect with himself. He never enjoyed the moments of peace and inner tranquility. He didn’t appreciate the devotion and love of his wife. Didn’t have the pleasure of hugging, loving and caring for his own children, and the joys of friendship eluded him.
What a pity. What a waste of life. It was so sad.
But, he was not the only one killing himself in the relentless pursuit of money. This is the case with most of us. Either we are too engrossed in hoarding the stacks of money, or running after it like a dog chasing its own tail. In the haste and frenzy of making money, there is no time to relax and enjoy the beauties of life.
Of course, unless one is a member of the “Non-Working Class”, one needs to work to make a living. Money provides the means to support whatever plans or purposes one may have in life. Naturally, the prime objective should be to enjoy the life. But, the things end up upside down, and the life goes down the gutter when making the money becomes the objective, and the sole purpose for living.
This is the betrayal of life. And, it is amazing to see how many are fully devoted to butchering their own lives at the altar of money. Not realizing that the life is too short – It ends quite abruptly while one is still in the hot pursuit of money.
A long time ago, I had to endure a day long motivational pep-talk session. Right before letting us lose for the lunch break, the speaker decided to let us privy into the ‘success story of the century’ so that we could munch on it along with the food. He announced:
I couldn’t help myself shooting out a logical question — “Bravo. That is really great. But, would you please tell us how Mr. Presley is getting these tens of millions of dollars transferred to himself?”
The reaction of the speaker and audience aside, the point was the life – and the death, of Elvis Presley. A great singer – The King. Flooded with the money indeed, but a miserable soul. He lived a sad life in a state of utter confusion and in drug addiction. He was found dead at age 42, fallen in his own vomit. Income from his music provided millions of dollars to those he never cared for.
Great Elvis Presley – But, what did he himself got from his life?
Life is indeed fabulous – But, you need to connect with yourself to appreciate it. And, you need the time to enjoy it. There is more to Life – A lot more . . . then just the money.
— Enjoy The Life —
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