Money Can't Buy Happiness(Michelle) Money Can’t Buy Happiness

I never really thought the expression, “money can’t buy happiness”, was true. As an infant, just by observing the people around me, I observed when they would obtain money and a huge grin would spread across their face, the corners of their smile spreading from ear to ear. Whenever I would see that grin and a person’s face light up at the sight of a crisp, green bill it would make me believe that I had proved the famous expression wrong. Now that I’ve grown up and matured, my idea of that expression has changed. As of now, I am able to reflect on life more and look deeper into things and particularly into people more than I was able to do years ago. My ideas about this expression changed the most though because of the money situation my family had stumbled upon because of the failing economy.

I remember being younger when the economy was doing well and waking up to twenty gifts for each of my three sisters and I. We used to believe that all of those presents, brought in because of money of course, were the best part of waking up on Christmas. Of course all of those toys and material items would make a child happy; however looking back it would only make them happy if it was given to them by somebody who bought it for them with love. Ever since the recession came along, my family hasn’t had quite as much to spend as we used to. Now when my sisters and I wake up on Christmas, and even though we know we didn’t get exactly what we wanted, we’re still happier than we ever were. All of us mostly feel this way because we wake up on Christmas together and for that, we are grateful.

I know some extremely wealthy people who have everything a child or adult could ever ask for and a big house with expensive decorations, and they come to our regular sized, common home and they are actually jealous. They tell us how they would give anything to live in our home. I’m actually appreciative that my family doesn’t have all that money to spend because when you do, it’s easy to lose sight of what really matters in life. To me, money is not what brings happiness, it’s the people who you’re surrounded by and the love you receive from them. Of course money can make it easier to find happiness and peace, then there’s no worrying about how you’re going to buy groceries or pay the bills, or pay for a doctor or dentist appointment. however, if you don’t have a family to share your riches with then the money means nothing.

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