In reality, most of us are trying to achieve the American dream of reaching the proverbial ‘top.’ For many of us, reaching the ‘top’ is indicative of having all of the material things that seem to indicate success. These material things are the diamonds, the name-brand clothes, the expensive shoes, the million dollar homes, the expensive cars, and all of the other material items that seem to connotate wealth. The problem is, the journey to reach the top often clouds the minds, the hearts, and the directions of persons attempting to fit with the ‘big boys and the big girls’ that portray a sense of having all of the material riches in life. It is getting the bling or bling-blinging that serves as an aspiration for some, an inspiration for some, and as an obsession for many more. What often starts as a journey to reach the American dream or to reach the top becomes a nightmare, instead of a dream with goals and plans. And in difficult times, the nightmare exists constantly, with those trying to reach the ‘top,’ robbing Peter to pay Paul, while also perpetrating a fraud.
Too often, the price one has to pay on the journey to reaching what is considered the heights of life and the success of life is greater than the end result. There most certainly is a dear price that often comes with the journey one undertakes when trying to obtain expensive material things and/or positions for which they do not qualify. There are many sacrifices that one has to make in order to have the so-called finer things in life. The financial strain, the debt, the emotional strain, the physical stress, the loss of true friendships, gaining those not so true friends who tend to serve as leeches, the compromise or loss of being oneself, broken hearts, broken spirits, and sometimes the loss of life accompany the climb to the ‘top.’ And these efforts many times make the quest for material success a miserable road to travel.
You must bear in mind that any time you get something you must give something. Either you will have to relinquish something or have to give something you don't have. On the other hand, you might also have to relinquish many of your personal attributes that have been dear to you, which can often mean you compromising your integrity, your beliefs, your values, your faith, your morals, your peace, your sanity, and many times sacrificing your life.
There are many questions related to your determination to reach the ‘top’ and gain material things, often by any means necessary. What is it all really for? Do material things indicate a level of happiness? And is your gain of material wealth a true sign of having arrived? With these questions come more questions that we can’t address in this blog. Often, the road to having the bling is a road one takes in an attempt to achieve economic and social status, usually to keep up with the Joneses (whoever they are). Trying to keep up with others when you don’t know how they attained or obtained what they have, or what you think they have can cause you misery, desperation, and disappointment. What often looks like gold on the outside is not necessarily gold on the inside. And what looks like green grass can in all actuality be artificial turf! There is nothing wrong with rising to the ‘top,’ it’s how you do what you do when you do it!
Has any one ever died and taken any of the material things attained in life to the grave with them at the time of their death? Of course not! The road to obtaining bling-bling usually encompasses individuals not living with the end in mind. Once attained or obtained at a higher price, the bling is usually left for someone else to claim, having lost its value for the original holder. Often, the recipient is someone who never worked for or sacrificed anything in order to have the material things that have been received, often by default, through the death of a loved one and sometimes the death of persons not loved so well.
Do material things indicate a level of happiness? Most certainly not! Happiness is an internal state and if you depend on the external material things to make you happy, you will probably experience more unhappiness. If happiness is indicative of the material possessions that you obtain in life, then your unhappiness will also be dictated by the loss of the same material possessions. If you are struggling to be where you are, you will struggle to get to the ‘top,’ and struggle even more to maintain your position at the ‘top.’
There is nothing wrong with having silver, gold, or diamonds. What is truly wrong is having all of the external material possessions and wealth, with silver and gold around your neck, on your fingers, along with fine cars and exquisite houses, while you are living daily with internal sadness in your heart, while maintaining a lie. You are much happier with a heart of gold that signifies happiness and peace rather than trying to have all of the money and material possessions in the world. Happiness and peace cannot be bought and there is no price tag for a smile, a wonderful relationship, a loving heart, or a great friend. The price you have to pay for these treasures is much less and the results last much longer if cherished, appreciated, and nurtured. However, the price to gain and maintain material wealth is much greater, especially if you are struggling to get there.
The climb never seems to end and often the fall is greater than the climb. The more we seem to have, the more we seem to want. However, when we have the love of God, family and friends, there is nothing greater and the road of life is one that involves more happiness than sadness. It is having these blessings that you are truly at the top, even if you are struggling, you are not struggling alone during difficult times. Also consider during this time of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic the question, what good are your attempts to gain wealth, when you do not have great health?! You won’t be around to enjoy what you gain materially, if your mind, your body, and your spirit are unhealthy. Focus on your health and the wealth will come. Getting to the ‘top’ or being on the proverbial ‘top’ won’t matter if you are on the bottom educationally, mentally, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, and politically. Further, if you are not willing to stand for what’s right, what’s fair, and what’s just, your drive to reach the ‘top’ might as well be the bottom!!!
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