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ALWAYS PREFER TO BE YOU
11-2-08
I love Jack Blanchard's writing and in his
latest column he says, "If I struggle through life, I will not be
ashamed of it. I can look at a millionaire and still rather be me."
This is exactly my philosophy. I have never known great wealth but I
have known poverty and relative ease. I prefer relative ease.
For six months of my life I found myself a thousand miles from home in
the miserable situation of being at the mercy of a liar. I had a wife
and two babies. Our top priority was baby food. My wife and I ate so
much peanut butter our skin became greasy.
Among other problems, we had no health insurance. I got the flu and my
fever got so high I was delirious but I had no money for a doctor. My
daughter was a baby, still crawling, and she burned her hand real bad.
When I took her to the only hospital in town, they ignored us. I finally
collared an intern and said, "I'll come over here and mop your floors or
anything to pay for it, but please see my daughter."
I made a promise at that time to never forget how it feels to be
completely broke and dependent on the mercies of others. I have kept
that promise. I have never looked down on the poor because I saw how it
could happen to anyone as it happened to me.
During the 16 years I was county executive (now county mayor) I came to
know many wealthy people. I saw they are just like the poor and middle
class - some are good and kind and some are greedy and selfish. I
developed a profound admiration for those who cared and used a portion
of their money to help the less fortunate. Some of them are treasured
friends to this day.
Some of the most miserable people I met during those years were the
extremely wealthy who clutched their money to their breast like hot
coals. It literally made them miserable.
Our consciousness is deeply revealed in the way we use our money,
whether we are wealthy or poor. A poor person can be as grasping,
selfish and unkind as the wealthiest.
Some people take pride in being poor. This consciousness freezes them in
poverty. Never brag on being poor. It is no more proper to brag on being
poor than to brag on being rich. It is certainly more stupid.
I quit a job making $100,000 a year to write columns and songs and do a
one-man show as a storyteller. I was offered a job making $96,000 two
years ago and turned it down. Does this show a disdain for money? I
certainly make a lot less money but I have no disdain for it. I respect
money. It is a means to some beautiful ends but it can also suck up your
soul.
The solution to handling money can be found in these words of Jesus:
"What is a man profited if he gains the whole world but loses his own
soul?" The word for soul in this verse is "true self." So what can be
good about amassing wealth if you lose your true self?
And what is your true self? It is three things for sure: your talents,
your highest dreams, and your personality traits that are most in tune
with love. In my case that is writing, music and the empathy God has
helped me grow in my heart. Your soul is that part of you that is most
genuine and authentic.
To find your right consciousness about money, find your own soul - your
own true self. Find your talents and your highest dreams. Then attune
all of these wonderful things to love for God, your neighbor and
yourself.
Then you can look at a millionaire and become one or simply prefer to be
you.
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