I'm currently reading a beautiful little book called The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, by Robin Wall Kimmerer. She's also the author of Braiding Sweetgrass.
The theme of the book is the gifting economy and how natural systems share abundance and cooperate for mutual benefit. In contrast, financially-based economies are all about scarcity and competition, as that's what drives up prices.
I read a post this morning by someone who clearly thinks the goal of life is to accumulate wealth, and there is no other more important value or principle to live by. He stated right out that he's willing to give up everything else in his life, including his country, for monetary benefit. While I understand that someone without financial security may feel that way in the moment, I don't think this person was coming from a position of extreme poverty. The contrast between these two mindsets was jarring. I know which appeals to me most. I'd far rather live with a mindset of abundance and cooperation.
If you agree with me, I think we can each have a role in combatting the idea that wealth is everything by doing simple things: Invite neighbours to dinner. Put some books in a little free library. Hold a swap meet or join a freecycling group. Set usable items at the curb for people to help themselves. Give of your time and labour to help someone else. Take your surplus to a donation centre. All these little daily actions remind us of what's really important to us. Celebrate community and kindness. Money really can't buy happiness, especially not if you've given up more important things to acquire it.
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