The value of life - what do you sell your time for?
q1 - the world's tallest completely residential tower is also located on the Gold Coast.
The Gold Coast is boasting the sale of a penthouse in their new Soul apartment block that went for $17 000 000....that is right, count the zero's there...seventeen.... million .....dollars!! That is probably more money than I will ever earn in my entire lifetime...and my kids lifetimes too! This four storey apartment located ontop of the 77 level building will become the ultimate bachelor pad complete with party zones, roof top pool and an entire level dedicated to his kids. That $17 million is just for the actual Penthouse - so add in a few more mill to kit the place out....
Not being much of a materialistic person I do not understand the logic of spending that amount of money on a house, regardless of how many millions you have in your bank account. Plus, what kind of life are those kids going to grow up to expect...unlucky if mum owns a small townhouse tucked away in some quiet neighbourhood around the corner hey!
Everyday we wake up and head out into the world, selling off our time to the highest bidder for skills that they deem worthy of paying us for. Then we save up those little dollars and exchange them for bits and pieces - like paying off someone elses bit of Earth, over priced food from supermarkets that do not really care about the health of its customers and things that generally, we do not need.
I remember our Commerce teacher once telling us "You will never get rich by selling off your time". Well, is material richness what life should be solely based upon? I listened to a woman this weekend with her family. They have a beachfront house, a fancy car, the kids have almost everything they ever want and the dad asked his wife for some money to go and buy himself an ice cream and was met with a firm, "No, we do not have money for that!". Well, I was completely gobsmacked! He sells off his time to buy them everything they have and he wants an ice cream and gets told no!
So, we have a man buying a house for $17 million and a man wanting a measly $3 ice cream which he cannot have. What makes one mans time more valuable than the others? It seems grossly unfair that there are so many people in the world who have nothing, who do not even know what ice cream is, and then others who splash out on luxuries that they could do without.
If you had lots of money what would you exchange your lifetime hours for that you spent earning those dollars? Would you use it to make your life better in ways that before, you had lived without, or would you help others lives become a little more comfortable? If you won the lotto and never had to work a single day in your life ever again what would you do with all your FREE time, time that was now yours to live it how you wanted without having to exchange it for hours you had previously sold off? Just because you have money does it mean that you have to spend it?
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
Just let me at the money, I'd spend it in no time.
But one thing for sure, money does not buy happiness. Good pic as usual, they really help a story.
Just think, soon you'll be too busy soon to do much of this,[HINT - it doesn't pay anyway]
Don't let the 'school' destroy your creative flair, will you?
Sometimes it's hard to hang on, talking from personal experience, which most people know, keep your mouth SHUT or else tell them what they want to hear. I fail on both those fronts, regularly, I've learned the hard way, but once you've finished you can do as you please.
I like to do much as I please anyway. Oh, no, no ,no. Naughty me.
It's also hard to make money honestly. Where will all the current insanity end?
You tell me and then we'll both know!
katyzzz
I used to resent those who were wealthy, thinking it unfair that an athlete could be paid multi-millions while the waitress who busts her butt struggles to make ends meet at home for her family. But I've out-grown that resentment (for the most part) and realize that there are key elements involved that the wealthy applied to their lives in order to get where they are. It isn't "un-deserving". I still resent the wealthy who flaunt their riches with fur coats, or who don't share their wealth with the needy - and while I agree that money cannot buy happiness, I've also come to understand that money isn't the root of all evils.
For the rest, helping a good cause like charity or donations is a good way to return the blessings given to me.
Besides a good deed deserves another one to be done
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
that made me chuckle, I can just imagine you rubbing your hands together as the prospect - my grandmother used to do the same
I am hoping the 'school' will improve what I have to say - and show me a way of it allowing to pay all the bills instead of only some! Ah to allow a passion to become a career - if only we could be so lucky the world would be a much happier place I reckon!
I cannot understand that amount of money being spent on something like a house! I realise that our spending is comparative to our earnings - but really! That amount of money would quite easily build and run a school and village in a developing country for years. It could be used for life saving research...the list goes on! I often wonder if these things are done to fill a very empty heart - if only they realised that there are other, much more satisfying ways to fill that void....it is insanity I agree!
ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Charity is not always something which is measured in dollars and has a lot more meaning to people in need. I have seen lonely old souls light up just by having someone to talk to, a child cry because they have been given a dirty doll with an eye missing because to them that is the greatest treasure they have ever had. Good on you Wendi = may we all learn from your example.
I agree with what you are saying about the mega -rich - good for them (said with truth and not jealousy), but when they start splashing out on ridiculous things that is when I have a problem. This mans children are going to grow up with such a false view of the world - look at the Paris Hilton types - what good does it do for them?
Who are we to judge I suppose - just seems a pity that others miss out on the small joys of life....
thanks for your comment Wendi
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
seems you have worked out a really good plan there - I like how you would give a little - good kharma there - a good deed definitely deserves another .
Hope all your writing and blogging dreams become a reality
ash
Kalikapsychosis
After dad left us(well, mum threw him out) things got really scary. We barely afforded rent, vinnies was feeding us, we never had a phone, barely afforded the car and sometimes didnt have power. It was a little better at high school but I got no excursions, no trips(like year 8 everyone else went skiing) no new clothes, backpacks had to last forever, as did shoes. I HATED IT. I think I developed this thing of being rich just to cope with having nothing.
But, my plan was, (somehow) acquire millions of dollars, and start up Cresent Moon Stables as the first devision of Cresent Moon. Cresent Moon itself would become a huge company encompassing all kinds of smaller businesses, started by little dreamers like me! Have a massive base of operations, run animal rescue units, landscaping, art and writing courses for disadvantaged or mentally ill people - all the people who have no hope, no chance, bring them in with open arms and say - "what is your dream? What have you always wanted to do?" Then make it happen. Start them off with my money then watch them fly off on their own strong wings. Level the playing field - make 50% of the population rich!
Its still my dream. Years of sweat and blood have made "Cresent Moon Stables' a reality, but we dont actually make any money! The horses have a great assest value, but its industry sensitive - you couldnt get the same value at the local sales for instance.
So, thats my big secret - to make sure no one feels that frustration and fear again. I think its so unfair, John Laws is making over $80 000 A WEEK! How much does Howard earn? It literally makes me GAG. Do they have any idea how much a quater of that would mean to US!!!!
I'll have to finish, before I get really fired up and ramble for ages, because youve hit on something Im extremely passionate about!
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
I am a person already living my life this way, but not because I am filthy rich and can afford it - I wish - but because one of my children is disabled. No money can change that, although we've corrected much from many years of surgery...
I dedicate my time to my family and disabled kids at wheelchair dancing; as a dancer myself, public relations, general moral support for the team. They rely on me being there as they take comfort from it, from the coach to the youngest kid. I am a lot of things it seems, but not egotistical or judgemental ...
*smiling* at the irony, because par se, I am not really a team player either, very much a loner and recluse all my life. Until my daughters came along, now its people, people, people.
I give my time to give motivational speeches for anyone - my most recent and upcoming are for writers who sufer writers block, sad people who suffer "life" block, down and out teenagers who are considering giving up. Dinner parties for disabled parents who need "outings' and social contact. I use whatever means I can to motivate people - sometimes climbing in their faces helps! *lol* (Hard for me though).. anyway...
I spend time on myself, because I am important. I try not to abuse my temple by eating well, not drinking too much, and not trying to be perfect all the time ... *rofl* the first two are easy!
At the moment, I am nursing my husband after major surgery and that is taking its toll on my health and nerves. The days seem a little longer lately... and the pay is awful!!!
I never needed much money and I guess I never wil l...although I used to have plenty in years gone buy, I think people loose their values too easily when there's a lot of it around, including me. Now that I am older, the meaning of life (for me) has far more appeal...
If I did win the lottery (which I don't play) so I guess not, but say some old uncle (whom I didn't know I had) - someone in the 'old country,' just up and popped off and left me bucket loads of the stuff?
Ha ha, as if that's gonna happen....
caio...
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Good on ya girl! I hope that your plan becomes a reality and I really do wish that people with intentions like yours would be the rich and famous of the world. Makes you think that maybe you went through what you did in order to help people in similar situations to see that there is hope out there and you do not have to simply accept your lot in life.
There are so many people in the world who are not given a chance - imagine if we could harness all of their powers and thoughts - what a difference it could make.
All the very best in your business, I hope you achieve everything you set out to...it takes time so don`t give up on that dream
ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Wow I hope you have someone who looks after you too. May your husband be well soon and you have the time you need to rejuvenate.
I love that people find riches in things other than those of monetary value. Everything that you speak of has value - important value.
I too, have experienced what it is like to live with money and things...I have also experienced what it is like to lose everything that I have owned. Now I spend what I need and put the rest away - one day it will have its need. Money destroys people, ruins relationships and perverts our view of the world.
Much power to your your daughter and her team and you for your motivation there! I have a disabled cousin that I am wracking my brains on a way to get over here at the moment. I try to motivate him too which is hard when he is on the other side of the world. He has his days when he meets me half way and he has his days when I need to be in his face as you say
All the best to you and your endeavours - seems you are busy looking after your world Lilla, good on ya. Hope it looks after you too.
ash
Kalikapsychosis
Ive thought that a lot too, that if everyone could harness their positive thoughts then it really would make a difference! Yep, I have my horses, I have a wonderful man and a family of cats - I feel so guilty asking for more when some people have so much less. I just cant beat the feeling of hopelessness, like Im here to do this thing, I can see how it could be done and imagine, oh, imagine, if a place like that REALLY existed! I truly believe the spirit of the whole earth could be lifted, if we could make more peoples dreams come true! I feel like no ones happy, like every day for every person is a fight against that same helplessness, that same entrapment, and if we could just start a chain reaction of breaking it then the whole human race could enter a new era.
Its the voices that are never heard that I want to raise up, spread the wealth of the world around. But I NEED to accept that my lot in life may never be more than this - crushed hope kills me most of all.
One thing I would love, LOVE to do, is put some rich bastard in my house on my budget for a week. The same meals, getting shocked by the electrics, leaky plumbing....Could they cope? I heard Janet Jackson was utterly dumbfounded in a supermarket the other day, it had been so long since shed been in one!
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
People
Diet Food Lifestyle
CHEATERS
1 For The Road
I am materialistic at times, then not - bottom line - I am caught up in making money - so it's hard to think past that...i think, well hope - that a crazy amount of money would at least make me STOP and think...not just want more.
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I know what you mean about people being unhappy =- are there any people in the world who are happy anymore? And it really brings you down, saps your energy being surrounded by these people. I can wake up in the best mood and before I have even finished my morning tea I can feel my energy levels going down...down...down!!!
I reckon you are onto something there! LIsten to the little people = you should run for Prime Minister
*lol* wouldn`t that be great to have someone live your life for a day - someone who is used to being chauffeur driven etc. Oh my word! It would be very interesting, in our little worlds I don`t think they would survive haha! Their helicopters would be out the backyard flying them off to their marble homes.......
I was dumbfounded when I went into a supermarket first time I wwas overseas...not because it had been so long since I had been in one but because there were actually items on the shelves *lol* we didn`t have many in our town by the time I left....it was like heaven!
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I appreciate your honesty here. I think we are all materialistic in some shape or form - we always want the best for ourselves or our loved ones - just at what cost hey!?
I like how you say a crazy amount of money would hopefully get you to STOP AND THINK about things - maybe having all that free time would allow us all to have a good long think about things!
be well, thanks for your comment
ash,