Rich vs. Wealthy

Q: What's the difference between being RICH and being WEALTHY?

A: Being RICH is the idea of being abundant of material things, having lots of "stuff": money, electronics, real estate, cars, popularity, etc.

B:Being WEALTHY encompasses a greater posession of human, spiritual and material characteristics.

A wealthy person is compassionate, have great depth-insight, and is fully detached from material posessions. It's easy for a wealthy person to fully share his/her "whole-self" with others.

Would you rather die rich or wealthy?

This question popped into my mind following a discussion with my friend Lisa. She said she had been wealthy for some of her life but rich for all of it.

What a fantastic way of viewing life because when you think about it we are all rich - fabulously rich. Some of us are wealthy - which doesn't necessarily lead to a rich life.

What does a rich life mean to you and your family? Is it the love and compassion and sharing and caring that being a family (whether it's a family of friends or a your blood relatives) brings? How would you define a 'rich' person? Someone who makes the most of all aspects of their lives?

Like a special friend.

Full of energy and enthusiasm, she has always tackled her life with gusto. She had a wonderful single life; completed a degree at University; started her own business; married her dream man; lived overseas; had two beautiful girls; when back to study art after the children were born; and now is a well known sculptress. Whew! And she's only half way through her life!

Before anyone mumbles 'it's OK for her, she must be loaded' - no she's not! And she has had some terrible sadness in her life; but she always experienced it, learned from it and moved on. Her lust for life (passion is too tame for Mela!) makes her one of the the richest people I know.

What would make a life fulfilling and rewarding and satisfying? Answering that question helps you understand the components of a rich life.

Someone who laughs a lot? Someone who knows themselves and is true to their values and morals? A person who loves learning and seeks new opportunities whenever they can?

A lust for life doesn't have to cost a fortune! And can be very simple. Someone who has the ability to enjoy every moment of their day is truly rich. Even the relatively unpleasant moments.

Do you wake up, go for a walk and feel humbled by the beauty that exists around you? Really look at the trees and sky and clouds; notice the birds and their song; see other people enjoying themselves (not always easy mind you!). Revel in the glory that you are alive! And make sure you make the most of being alive - lots of people die at thirty but their bodies keep walking around!

Before anyone 'bah humbugs' me, anyone who knows me will tell you that I'm really like this! I make the most of life's experiences. I always expect highs and am bursting with enthusiasm when they occur and really experience to the fullest extent the lows! But that's part of the richness isn't it - to be able to feel. Most of us die without having allowed our real feelings and emotions to surface since the age of five. No matter how wealthy you are, if you can't feel, you are poor.

If you have friends and environments that allow you to be yourself you are rich beyond your wildest dreams. Having that unconditional acceptance is a rare quality we need to actively seek in our lives if it is absent.

If you have one person that loves you for you or even a pet who enthusiastically greets you when you arrive home, you are rich.

If you have a job at all you are rich! If you have a job you love and put great energy and enthusiasm into you are hugely rich! Even if you have a job you don't particularly enjoy, be grateful you have one and put your best into it - you will be amazed at how much more job satisfaction you experience.

We are all rich - some of us just don't notice it as much.

Seek instead those areas I have outlined and the many more you may discuss and focus on those.

Develop a lust for life - a love of your life and a passion for what you have and you'll burst with richness!