Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – September 8, 2004

Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – September 8, 2004

Lifestyle

Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – September 8, 2004 – What does this mean anyway? Does anyone know? “Lifestyle” is defined as an individual’s’ typical way of life. This got me to thinking about my “lifestyle” – as opposed to say – the lifestyles of the rich and famous. There appears to be a distinct difference here.

Things like Lear jets, yachts, penthouse suites, Caribbean holidays, Aspen, diamonds, butlers, mansions, Rodeo Drive shopping sprees, maids, cooks, nannies, chauffeurs, unlimited plastic surgery, governesses, boarding schools, cars, toys, vacations, islands, gambling, night life, parties, caviar, Champagne, platinum, silk, satin, furs and extravagance spring to mind.

So, why you may well ask, are so many of these fabulously wealthy people unhappy in their “lifestyles”? We constantly hear about affairs, divorce, suicide, boredom, re-marriage, greed, pre-nuptials, fractured business ventures, scheming, snobbery, revenge and even murder. Not all wealthy people fall prey to these machinations – many are kind, generous, charitable, happy, well-adjusted, giving, concerned, family oriented and gracious.

It appears that the celebrity “lifestyles” that we hear about are often either fulfilling or unhappy. Sort of like the rest of us!

I don’t have to worry about being rich and famous any day soon, so what exactly is my lifestyle? Well – let’s see, what might apply to me – single, middle-aged, professional, business oriented, urban, liberal minded, animal advocate, culture conscious, aware, health conscious, charitable, politically alert and fiscally responsible. Does this make up a lifestyle? Is my home a lifestyle? Are my friends part of my lifestyle? My pets? My career? My social life?

Am I happy now? Would I be happier if I was rich? Was it Mae West who said – “I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor and rich is better”? I think money gives people two things – unbelievable creature comforts and the ability to help others. If you’re never satisfied while amassing the former and don’t understand the latter, then your chances of being satisfied with life are significantly diminished, and no amount of money will ever fulfill you.

You can have an enviable lifestyle and not a pick of character. You can have a modest lifestyle and be generous to a fault, and you can be a pauper and know more about life than a titan of industry or the wealthiest socialite.

Lifestyles help to define a person but they certainly don’t make a person, they don’t bestow character, they don’t predict who will be a decent, caring individual and who will be a self-centred, ungrateful twit.

If truth be known, I already have a great lifestyle, so I’m still hard at work developing the character that goes along with it.