20. Money

Riddle me this. What is it that when you have all you want it is never enough. That disappears over the horizon as you think you are getting nearer. That’s right … money.

The Law of Diminishing Returns applies well here. Consider the value of an old beat up junker car that gets you to work a mile away in freezing rain and snow, versus walking. The perceived value is immense. Let’s magically transform that beater into the car of your dreams… a Rolls Royce or a Ferrari even. You are still out of the snow with perhaps more comfort or excitement. The increased value is quite small. It is diminished.

The same applies for a warm, safe modest house versus an opulent extravagant mansion. Big deal. Or a basic meal of meat and potatoes cooked at a campsite versus a 15 course feast prepared by a renown master chef at a 5-Star restaurant. If you are no longer hungry you win. To prove diminishing returns take a look at what remains the next day. Can you tell the difference?

The higher your expectations the more money you want. The more money you get the more you want. It becomes an addiction. A never ending quest for a destination that does not exist. People who achieve great success and wealth are inevitably disappointed. The long arduous journey left them feeling vacant. Empty inside. They may discover the truth about money and get off the hamster wheel that leads nowhere. Most however double down in a vain attempt at material bliss and die sad and lonely.

Money is in essence energy. As energy cannot be created or destroyed only circulated, money too is merely circulated (if real like gold which is mined at great cost and effort, not magically created like fiat currencey). You can store energy in a battery but sooner or later that energy dissipates into entropy. Storing money may make sense if it was in limited supply or you are going to live forever. It is not and you are not.

Campfires are meant to be shared not hoarded. Why? Because they soon burn out with only cold ashes remaining. You can’t own a campfire and can never really own anything, especially money. Because soon enough your fire burns out and only ashes remain.

What is truly valuable? Would you trade your arms and legs for a million dollars? Would you pay a million dollars for a cure to your terminal cancer? To get out of jail when sentenced to life? To bring back a lost love? To get just another few years of life while on your deathbed? If you are not facing these decisions consider yourself wealthy. You can get off the wheel now. Freedom is somewhere between scarcity and too much.