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Rich or Poor?

OR - are you rich or are you poor?

Really - who is rich and who is poor?

Talmud says:
Ben Zoma says:
Who is rich?
The one who is appreciates what he has…
(Talmud—Avot 4:1)

 THAT is something to consider. Contentment, acceptance - easy reality.

 So - who wants what? What is more? What makes us think we are rich or not rich. Poor or not poor?

 Anxiety comes to mind... IF I am worried about where my next meal is coming from? or where will I lay my head? OR will my family have their needs taken care of and maybe some mere wants!

 There was a statistical assertion that after a person/family made about $80,000. - that more money did not have a big effect. At that level.. or some such level (depending on where you live and size of the group of people supported by some number of dollars) - more money did not make a big difference in how a person felt.

 Security of that income is of prime importance. 

 Generally - one is rich ... or rich enough - if anxiety is lacking in his/her life relative to basic needs and wants.

 BTW - I think being too rich can cause anxiety, too. Will I lose it? Will it get taken away?

 Being poor is more serious since starvation or exposure to the elements risks one's life.

Figuring out how to get the money/resources sufficient to not be anxious is NUMBER ONE... THEN -- appreciation, acceptance, contentment can follow and for many in a world of advertisements for this, that, and another thing... working at appreciation of what we have may be necessary. That work may also be difficult.  Easy or difficult... another dual dynamic!

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