By Klaus Döring
“No limit in the sky” is a popular phrase and lyrical theme meaning that success and potential are endless. It appears in various creative works, including songs by artists like ChaptrTwo and Vict Molina, as a motivational expression of freedom and boundless opportunity.
Some people have money to burn! Every time I observe them, I feel that their money is going down the drain. Yes, “money talks.” The more money you have, the more avaricious you might become. Every time we have to dig deeper into our pockets, we might long to be like those people who don’t see the difference between a PHP 500 or PHP 1,000 bill.
I am really not rich! I also wouldn’t hesitate to say that I would like to be! Being rich means having wealth. Wealth is abundance, opulence, and affluence. Affluence can quickly become an influence. Dyed-in-the-wool millionaires or even multimillionaires often lose their view of reality. They can’t even see the horizon, which could be the demarcation of their real estate. They don’t even recognize the wonderful flowers growing and blooming in their gardens.
Money calms us down! Sure. No doubt at all! We all need an income to survive and meet our daily needs — and maybe a little bit more. Many of us struggle through life and work like slaves for a pitiful daily minimum wage. If you’re rich, you might be on top. But believe me, once you are on top, you will have some unwelcome, though mostly unavoidable, companions such as loneliness, so-called friends (!), parasites, and freeloaders.
These companions will make you scream in pain because you will start missing the things you expected from them: real friendship, love, care, comprehension, understanding, sympathy, and appreciation. Remember such things? Miss such things?
Yes, money can give you a wonderful sleep, and you might stay in one of the most luxurious beds — yet be awake while your poorest neighbor sleeps better and more peacefully on the floor. There are many sayings about money. I like this one: Money can buy books but not brains. You might study a lot and gain a great deal of experience; it’s just a pity if you don’t use it at the right time for the right people around you.
Money can buy food but not appetite. Who reaps the benefits of it? A store room filled to overflowing will never be satisfying if sour freeloaders join your table and push away your real friends.
Our last earthly dress has no pockets. The remembrance of how we acted and lived together with our fellow human beings will remain forever. With money, we might be able to let the devil dance. But money alone doesn’t make us happy. Money kills more people and friendships than a cudgel.
The more money, the more problems.
The more money we have, the more we have to pay, and the higher our bills become.
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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook or LinkedIn or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.
