The People Who Say Money Can't Buy Happiness Are Wrong

ATeam

Senior Member
Retired Expediter
Excerpt from my daily blog:

Diane and I are in drive/sleep mode on a run from Florida to California. Delivery is scheduled for Saturday morning.

The night's drive was glorious. Under a near-full moon, I got to drive hundreds of miles on I-10 in light traffic, not having to think ahead to my next turn since it was a day away.

I kept the radio off some of the time to be alone with my thoughts. It might be better to say I kept the radio off to fully experience the satisfaction of driving one revenue-producing mile after another on a run that contributes to what will be the financially-best month we have had in nine years of expediting.

It's fun to drive a truck under a near-full moon on the open road. It is even more satisfying when the money is good.

The people who say money can't buy happiness are wrong.

On cross-country runs, Diane and I always feel better when driving for a great rate than when driving for mediocre money. The more profitable the run, the happier we are.

We're in business to make money, after all. When some of your goals are financial, why wouldn't a full purse provide more happiness than an empty one?

Thinking about this a bit more, the whole notion of money buying happiness seems wrongheaded. Happiness is not for sale. You can't go into a store and buy five pounds, $100 dollars worth or a week's supply of it.

Happiness is a feeling or a way of being. People don't say "I have happiness." They say, "I feel happy" or "I am happy."

How do you get that feeling or become that way? I don't think you do. Happiness is not something that can be gained by seeking it. Happiness is something you already have. It naturally bubbles up from within when fear and want are absent.

Owning and operating a truck opens the door to many negative possibilities, and many of those are financial. But when you are making good money, the negative financial possibilities fade into the background and your natural happiness bubbles up.

I have enjoyed many moonlight runs on the open road over the years. Was I happier on this one because it paid well and was part of a great month?

Yes! Absolutely!

It feels good to make good money. While that money does not buy happiness directly, it eliminates the financial stress that might otherwise be felt, and thereby allows your inner happiness to bubble up. It also creates a financial surplus, providing more freedom and security than a hand-to-mouth existence would.

If you believe that money can't buy happiness, I invite you to reconsider.

When you say those words to yourself or others -- money can't buy happiness -- what do you mean exactly? In what sense are they true, and in what sense are they not?
 
Last edited:

skyraider

Veteran Expediter
US Navy
Excerpt from my daily blog:

Diane and I are in drive/sleep mode on a run from Florida to California. Delivery is scheduled for Saturday morning.

The night's drive was glorious. Under a near-full moon, I got to drive hundreds of miles on I-10 in light traffic, not having to think ahead to my next turn since it was a day away.

I kept the radio off some of the time to be alone with my thoughts. It might be better to say I kept the radio off to fully experience the satisfaction of driving one revenue-producing mile after another on a run that contributes to what will be the financially-best month we have had in nine years of expediting.

It's fun to drive a truck under a near-full moon on the open road. It is even more satisfying when the money is good.

The people who say money can't buy happiness are wrong.

On cross-country runs, Diane and I always feel better when driving for a great rate than when driving for mediocre money. The more profitable the run, the happier we are.

We're in business to make money, after all. When some of your goals are financial, why wouldn't a full purse provide more happiness than an empty one?

Thinking about this a bit more, the whole notion of money buying happiness seems wrongheaded. Happiness is not for sale. You can't go into a store and buy five pounds, $100 dollars worth or a week's supply of it.

Happiness is a feeling or a way of being. People don't say "I have happiness." They say, "I feel happy" or "I am happy."

How do you get that feeling or become that way? I don't think you do. Happiness is not something that can be gained by seeking it. Happiness is something you already have. It naturally bubbles up from within when fear and want are absent.

Owning and operating a truck opens the door to many negative possibilities, and many of those are financial. But when you are making good money, the negative financial possibilities fade into the background and your natural happiness bubbles up.

I have enjoyed many moonlight runs on the open road over the years. Was I happier on this one because it paid well and was part of a great month?

Yes! Absolutely!

It feels good to make good money. While that money does not buy happiness directly, it eliminates the financial stress that might otherwise be felt, and thereby allows your inner happiness to bubble up. It also creates a financial surplus, providing more freedom and security than a hand-to-mouth existence would.

If you believe that money can't buy happiness, I invite you to reconsider.

When you say those words to yourself or others -- money can't buy happiness -- what do you mean exactly? In what sense are they true, and in what sense are they not?

You are motivated, persistent,creative and a true business person and very rare in the world of the everyday expeditor . Johnathan Livingston Seagull comes to mind or in another realm, you are soaring with the Eagles, amen.
 

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
Earning to money to make you happy is different than spending that same money in order to be happy.
 

Ragman

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Thinking about this a bit more, the whole notion of money buying happiness seems wrongheaded. Happiness is not for sale.

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davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
Had times through my life when I have had it, and times when I didn't. Probably like many others. To me it is more of a state of mind verses hard currency.
 

Tennesseahawk

Veteran Expediter
Had times through my life when I have had it, and times when I didn't. Probably like many others. To me it is more of a state of mind verses hard currency.

Exactly. Money can't buy happiness. But it can buy comfort, which, in turn, can make you happy.
 

Humble2drive

Expert Expediter
Happiness is not being pained in body or troubled in mind.
Thomas Jefferson

Money is irrelevant. I learned that the hard way.
 

Rocketman

Veteran Expediter
Financial security is a large part of being happy. I am happiest when not only do I have the opportunity to enjoy life, but when I can also afford that enjoyment without guilt. Learning to live within your means and having realistic goals and expectations also help with the equation.
 

aquitted

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Phil read the book of Ecciastes in your bible it's in the old testament. It is written back about 935 B.C. by king Solomon the richest and wisest person that ever lived on earth. He tells you what he went through in his quest to find happiness and what he found instead and how he found it and the most interesting concusion of the matter found in chapter 12 verse 14 it,s only 12 chapters so it makes for easy reading. I believe an intelectual as yourself could get some real insight on your question by reading this short book
 
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