Enough

Last week, somebody asked me,”If someone gave you $10,000,000, what would you do with it?”

I’m not a financially wealthy man, not even close, and they said it could change everything.

They said, I could live a wonderful life. I already live a wonderful life.

They said I could live in a beautiful home. I already live in a beautiful home.

They said I could have several homes. I think you only have one home – the rest are called hotel rooms, whether you own them or not.

They said I could travel as much as I want. I already travel as much as I want.

They said I could meet more interesting people. Everyone I know is interesting.

They said I could buy a glorious yacht. Why?

They said I could buy a private plane. Why?

I’m not being noble, far from it. I’d buy my home outright, splurge on a piece of art, make sure my retirement was secure, and then give the rest to people, charities and cultural organizations I already contribute to and believe in. 

Seriously, how much do you need? How much is enough? And how much is just obscene?

I know some very wealthy people who make it their mission to fund the arts, education, and healthcare programs of their communities. They’re remarkably generous and something to aspire to.

On the other side of that gold coin, however, is a group of financially graced people we hear more about, many who have benefittedf rom politically approved insider trading or deals – the ones  who will never understand the meaning of the words grace or humanity.

Earlier this week, a man who had been awaiting sentencing, received a Presidential pardon, though he was found guilty of withholding more than $10,000,000 from the paychecks of the nurses, doctors and others who worked at his nursing home facilities, under the pretext of using it for their Social Security, Medicare and federal income taxes, and instead, using that money to fund his own very luxurious lifestyle, $2 million yacht included. There are no words.

There’s a point with really big money, that all I see is a number with a bunch of zeros at the end. And there’s a point with all of the self-serving, non-philanthropic, greed driven zillionaires we’re constantly bombarded with in the news, that I don’t see souls anymore, I don’t see compassion or empathy or, in fact, people. 

All I see is a bunch of zeros. 

“Ignorance, hatred and greed are killing nature.“

– Masanobu Fukuoka