Before enlightenment chop wood carry water. After enlightenment chop wood carry water.
If a person can learn to enjoy and appreciate life, then work is enjoyable and however much money turns out to be enough. If a person doesn’t enjoy and appreciate life, work is not enjoyable and no amount of money is enough.
Edward, this is a very interesting take on money and work, as usual!
As you also subtly point out, I don't think it's about how much money is enough, but it's about the actual work that we do which is a source of satisfaction and fulfillment.
Being obsessed with how much money is enough to stop working is the same, for me, as being obsessed with how much food do I need to have in my pantry to never have to shop for food again. That sounds ludicrous. Why would I even think in those terms?!
Maybe it's all about our scarcity mentality, about finite natural resources and how we associate work with an unpleasant activity. A topic to ponder on, and I might just write something up with my view on it. ;-)
Basically everyone thinks that when they have "enough" they'll walk away.
The reality is (having seen it in many people) that 99% just keep doing what they've always been doing. People who have all the freedom and means in the world, rarely experiment with new ways of living.
For many of the reasons you listed, plus a general: they don't know how else to spend their time. They've not developed any other hobbies or passions or interests beyond work... so work is the most logical (and socially acceptable) path.
Before enlightenment chop wood carry water. After enlightenment chop wood carry water.
If a person can learn to enjoy and appreciate life, then work is enjoyable and however much money turns out to be enough. If a person doesn’t enjoy and appreciate life, work is not enjoyable and no amount of money is enough.
It's true Dan!
Fascinating. I wonder how gender affects these observations
Edward, this is a very interesting take on money and work, as usual!
As you also subtly point out, I don't think it's about how much money is enough, but it's about the actual work that we do which is a source of satisfaction and fulfillment.
Being obsessed with how much money is enough to stop working is the same, for me, as being obsessed with how much food do I need to have in my pantry to never have to shop for food again. That sounds ludicrous. Why would I even think in those terms?!
Maybe it's all about our scarcity mentality, about finite natural resources and how we associate work with an unpleasant activity. A topic to ponder on, and I might just write something up with my view on it. ;-)
Basically everyone thinks that when they have "enough" they'll walk away.
The reality is (having seen it in many people) that 99% just keep doing what they've always been doing. People who have all the freedom and means in the world, rarely experiment with new ways of living.
For many of the reasons you listed, plus a general: they don't know how else to spend their time. They've not developed any other hobbies or passions or interests beyond work... so work is the most logical (and socially acceptable) path.