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FOR RICHER OR POORER


Tuesday, July 28, 2020
 
 
All riches are worthless if we lack good health.
 
Poverty is no picnic, either.
 
Many talented people pursue riches rather than good health as if living well comes with a prepaid long-life concierge plan.
 
Nor does austere life ensure simple health.
 
What are the priorities of people without riches – the homeless, the working poor, those who are asset rich/cash poor, those out of work for a while, and those on the sidelines permanently – what do they wish for?
 
Do they wish for better health, or for cash?
 
The pace of our world reinventing itself in recent months is beyond anyone’s dream or nightmare scenario – and many experts argue it is still ‘early days’ in this pandemic. Most of us are wary of it, and undoubtedly weary of hearing little else …
 
Someone, recently explaining their weight control method was exercise, explaining: “that way, I can eat whatever I want,” which struck me oddly because we all know that exercise has far less influence on our weight than does what we put in our mouths. Food controls weight, and health, and has far more impact on sickness and chronic health problems than skipping a workout.
 
Moreover, I think this is a symptom of what is going on in our world – as we reel, and react, to what is happening we look for answers to problems we cannot solve, and sadly we reach for ones that haven’t worked before as if they will somehow magically work now. Governments use old tools badly, rather than inventing new tools. Politicians, their PR directors, bankers, CEOs – and people way over the poverty line are using the same old tools badly, rather than inventing new tools.
 
The wealthiest people on earth have something beyond health or wealth; they have happy. Money helps, good health helps – add in pleasant weather and civil society, and it’s hard to beat, but if you aren’t happy, what’s the point?
 
Happy is not a solution to anything, any achievement, or for any lifestyle – it is a foundation for everything.
 
Full stop.
 

Reader feedback:
 
DOING IT WRITE
Mark, you nailed it again. For me, and I hope all your readers, one of the reasons I read you is now understanding something better, because of the way you explained it that was different than anything I had previously read or heard. LH, Lethbridge, AB




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