Want to Be Rich? We Have A Very Simple Way To Do Just That

giving back

At the end of the day, we all want to be wealthy and rich. I know that I wouldn’t be too upset if there were millions sitting in my bank account; and I’m going to take a stab in the dark and assume you wouldn’t complain too much about that problem either. The good news for me, though, is that I’m already rich. People ask me that on a regular basis, and I’m proud and very appreciative to say that I’m rich. Do I have millions of dollars in the bank? No; I do not. However, I am rich in so many things that are more important than just money.

It helps to have enough to pay the bills and have some fun, but that’s not what makes me rich. What makes me rich is the things I have that money cannot buy. You know that saying that money cannot buy happiness, but it can buy you a lot of things? How about the one that goes a little something like, “Some people are so poor all they have is money,”? Those are both very true statements. Some people have far more money than I will ever have, but they are nowhere near as rich. I have problems; life likes to throw me a curve ball now and again.

What I have is perspective, and that’s what makes me rich. I have a handsome husband who works very hard for our family, who loves our babies more than life itself and who is a very hands-on father who never has to be asked to help out with the kids or around the house. He loves me, he respects me and he’s kind. I have a wonderful family. I have four beautiful kids that are really annoying most days, but really good at giving hugs and kisses and making life seem so much better. I have a roof over my head, a job I love, a nice car to drive, the problem of having so many clothes in my closet I never have anything to wear. I have my faith, and a wonderful circle of friends. I have so much. I have the ability to give, and that makes me feel good.

So many people want to be richer, and this is how it’s done. Appreciate all the things you have that money cannot buy. Laughter; money cannot buy laughter (unless you buy tickets to see a hilarious comedian, and then money can buy you laughter). Another way that I feel so much richer in life is by giving. I used to be very stingy with things; if I no longer needed them, my instinct was to sell them. That’s when I realized that I’m profiting off of things so that other people can get them for a discount.

My mother is a teacher at a school that is a very low-income school and many of the children there suffer regularly. Their parents do not have vehicles, some live in a tent in the woods. Some have no food except at school. When a family who had very little to begin with recently lost everything in a fire, I made the decision to clean out my kids’ closets and give them so much of what we have. With twins in the house who just turned two, we have two infant swings, two boppy pillows, two infant car seats, two bumbo seats, two rocking bouncing chairs, two play mats, two exersaucers, two walkers, two high chairs, multiple double strollers; I was going to sell it, but I decided that this family needed it more.

When I gave those things to them and saw the relief on their faces and the appreciation for taking the time to help them when life was at its lowest point for them, I knew that I was immediately richer. I felt richer giving those expensive items to someone without charging them for them than I ever did taking hundreds of dollars from someone so that they could outfit their new baby’s room in nice, expensive gear.

I’m not a millionaire, but I’d say most days I’m very rich. I’m not perfect, and I’m not someone who has it all. I am merely a woman who has the knowledge to see that most of my problems are not very big in comparison to the problems of the rest of the world. If you want to be rich and truly feel rich, you have to find happiness. Nothing makes you feel happier than helping others, than by changing their lives. You will feel a sense of pride and happiness when you give your money to those in need, but you will feel so much more when you give your time and your effort – and when you think less about yourself than you think about someone else.

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