As I sat catching up with Celebrity Big Brother (CBB) I couldn't but wonder what it would be like being a millionaire. For some of the contestants are already financially rich. There is not a human being who doesn't have a million who has not considered the same thought. What would you do if you were a millionaire? If your ticket come up on the Euro millions or any other of the big lotteries. Made for life. The thing is though, would you want to be rich and famous or just rich in money terms. I'm not so sure I'd want the famous side to it. It wouldn't be so great walking down the street and being recognised by people you don't know who think they know something about you. Who think they can just come up to you like you are some public property and say whatever they like, or they are your friend/enemy but have no personal reason for being a friend/enemy. I'd definately not have the fame, give me the money though, I'd be happy with it, or hope I'd be happy with it.
Which is the next important point. People say money can not buy happiness. It may not, but it can purchase opportunities which would not be there. It can purchase freedom. If money were of little object it would not be a issue getting on a plane and flying off to some foreign city to catch the night life, sun or any special event which was about to happen and being part of it. You could eat in the best restaurants, not worry about impulse purchases and stay in any hotel with just your credit card as company and a small bag of essentials. There rest could be bought while on holiday. You could stay in a place as long as you liked, perhaps all winter long if you knew back in your own country it was too cold to endure. If you had an accident then you'd get private health care and immediate emergency treatment by the best surgeons. You'd get your teeth sorted out, a great hair cut, a complete physical a personal trainer or with all the time in the world on your hands go to a gym whenever you felt like it. You could help friends and relatives who needed it. It wouldn't have to be with real money but for instance by getting things done for them which they needed. A new kitchen here, a training course there for the teenagers trying to get a job. Things to help them on the ladder to being good citizens. Of all things maybe having the time to be there and spend with those people you love would be the best part. Time which normally is spent working and worrying. Worries would be different and not centred on finance.
Then what are things? Boats, cars, planes? They are objects. They do not bring happiness, they are short term items which wear out and decay just as our own bodies do. Therefore the happiness we get from them will be short lived. Interests change, objects of desire are just things. The value given to them is perceptive. A photograph of a friend or relative who has passed away will have greater value and consistent value than a Porche or Lamborgini. Food is a necessity, water is a necessity, shelter is a necessity other things are just fillers. People are important but they too are transitory, everything is momentary and will change. Our perceptions will change from moment to moment, but some stay for significantly longer. Money does not buy happiness, it is perception of things, people and events which brings happiness. But even saying all this, if I see a tenner on the ground and ownerless I'll not mind picking it up and becoming it's owner. We all have to live. I'd even bet a millionaire would pick it up. Because there's one thing for sure, I don't see any millionaires dropping their tenners on the ground and they can afford it as well.
What brings me happiness in life is Sparkling. Which is something I don't even have to perceive, she's worth an easy million, so I'm rich, very rich.
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