The road to happiness. Will the journey towards achieving your goal benefit you or corrupt you?

SFC Mark Merino, I believe if you have strong, morals, beliefs and values on what life is and me personally believing in the Bible as my compass I can understand what the journey is. It is so unpredictable. At my retirement ceremony the reviewing officer talked about the dash(-) on the tombstone it made me realize how short/precious life is.

Grandma's analogy of life. Parenthood (1989)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1h_hmdVJAc

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -- WOW-- What a Ride!"

Great question, SFC Mark Merino. I'm guilty as charged. I can get so focused on the end goal that I fail to enjoy the journey. I think Americans and probably military folks are famous for that.

It is so vitally important to enjoy that journey because tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone, and we may not reach that end goal. So, we would be well advised to enjoy every day.

I agree with you that we are already rich in so many ways and we should stop and think about that once in a while.

I think it's all about the journey and how you make that trip. We sometimes confuse ends and means when it comes to material success. Having a strong moral compass and a focus on what is actually important in life, which includes serving others, comes with success as a byproduct.

The journey will benefit me for sure because I would never trade my moral or character in for anyone.

So, money can buy Happiness, but only to a point. Until you make a certain threshold too much time is spent worrying about things that are fixed by money (food, shelter, future security) I'm going to call this challenge 'the grind.' After a threshold happiness is impeded by things that are not controlled by money, but usually by lack of time, time with family, exercise, relaxation, vacations I'm going to call this "the race." That threshold turns out to be around 75 thousand dollars per year. I personally suspect that there is a third threshold, after you have a huge chunk of money, no longer need to work and have all the free time in the world. Most of us will probably never face this challenge, very few people do, but I think at that point the challenge becomes one of purpose, if survival, security and time to do what you want isn't demanding your energy, you need to find a new purpose to drive you. I'll call that the "curse of the playboy." Some people have adroitly handled that curse (Bill Gates, Elon Musk, etc) some people have failed at it (not naming names, consult your local tabloids.)


http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2010/09/07/the-perfect-salary-for-happiness-75000-a-year/

My life's goal has always been (since the birth of my children anyway), to raise productive members of society who are going to go out into the world with confidence, children who are not afraid to take on problems head on and who want to be a part of the re-birth of American pride and embrace individual responsibility. I am 'rich' enough. I don't need a billion dollars in the bank, three houses and five cars. I have my children, my wife, my God, and hopefully my 'hobby' will be enough to keep the bills paid and food on the table. I also don't hold any ill feelings to those who want all that material stuff.

If Morgan Freeman says it, it must be true. From the mouth of Morgan Freeman himself. "Remember, believe..... I know it sounds like a cat poster" - Morgan Freeman

"Don't lose your dinosaur"-
Some where in this world in bombed out city or a dirt floor hut people are happy. Happy just to see their children grow. Happy to sit down to a meal. The fallacy we buy into is that more "stuff" = an increase in happiness. And anyone with a lot of stuff can tell you it doesn't.
There's a saying...a bishop asks a priest if he prefers to minister to the rich or to the to the poor...he answered to the rich, because at least they know that money won't solve their problems.
Everyone wants to be smarter, faster, thinner, out of debt, bigger house, etc. In some cultures competition, ego and ambition are considered mental illness. all that matters is the people we help and the lives we touch. Everything else is temporary and we will lose it all.