It’s only money, honey.
“Your salary should match your age”.
Profound words I remember a teacher declaring to my mere 14-year-old self in one of those nonsensical, ridiculous lesson fillers the school stuck in the timetable when they ran out of educational ideas to further our development.
Those words stuck with me. At first I couldn’t understand it — how and where was I going to earn at least £14k a year, at 14?! I was overcome with panic. And then I realised child labour was only slightly frowned upon throughout the country. Oh and yeah it might have been illegal.
I’ve always remembered that quote. I quickly realised the older I got, the more I apparently had to earn. And panic then really did set over me.
What was missing and not given context to the age-old saga of money, money, money, is the aspect of happiness attached to your everyday life. Money or happiness? The chicken or the egg? Villa or Blues? We should all know the answers to these very simple, non-multi layered questions. He says.
The things they teach you in school are to follow the same path as everyone else: work hard, get good grades, pursue higher education and do your best in earning as much money as possible. But I never remember ever discussing the pursuit of happiness (for my Will Smith lovers) when you reach adulthood. But only to focus on the conveyor belt of getting your head down, earn the big bucks, usually to the advantage of the even bigger company you’re working for, and live that steady, settled life.
I don’t think I ever heard the word ‘entrepreneur’ until after sixth-form. But that might just be because we iz from Dudley, and didn’t discuss such matters. Working for yourself and going against the grain of the conformist, stable route might not necessarily bring you more money, but it may bring you more happiness.
You could be on £12k a year scraping by and be the happiest person in the world. Or you could be on £120k per annum, and wrongly perceived to be the happiest you’ve ever been. Both could be right, or wrong.
It’s very hard not to connect the two, but money shouldn’t equate to happiness. You being content and fulfilled should be completely independent of how much money you do or don’t earn. Easier said than done, as this back and forth debate is something I grapple with on a daily, and I never know which way I’ll go with it from week to week.
All I know is, as much as I love my trainers, t-shirts and general materialistic things I splutter my money on, none of it really matters. It doesn’t mean anything at all if I’m wearing cool Carhartt or the kangaroo of Kangol: am I happy with where I’m at in life? Or is comparison the thief of joy, and I’m judging myself against the guy down the road who I perceive to be richer than me, by means of a bigger house, car, or trainer collection (no chance).
Deep down, nobody is richer than me. But that’s not exclusive to me, we should all think this about ourselves. Not in the monetary sense and where this positions us in society. But in the value of friends, family, good times, good laughs, great memories. Just generally being a good person, surrounded by good people.
I think that may well be my own definition of LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE. (Please note if I ever see this sign in your house, I’m walking straight back out with no please, thank you, or goodbye).
Nobody is happy every single day. And if you are, come spend a couple of hours with me, I’ll bring you right back down to earth, no problem. And it’s easy for me to write a few words, forget about them tomorrow and get on with life. But one thing I always try and regularly remember is that earning more money means just that, you earn more money. Me or you being happy is our own cross to bare. But Jesus Christ, let’s not crucify ourselves in getting there.
May that Lord very much be with you. Peace.
