Envy and Perspective

The subject of envy was brought up to me the other day. My wife and I live in Orange County, California, and it is very affluent where I live. We would be firmly in the middle class, but we live around people with money with all the designer brands, nicest cars and whatnot. We own a condo, but it is worth the price of nice houses in other states and other parts of California. I, of course, want more, but do not feel some sort of loss or need to have what other people have. When I was younger, I have felt that way at times, but now, it seems ridiculous to lament what I do not have. I will strive to obtain more, but that is more for personal goals that I have for me and my family, but not out of obligation to prove something to others.

Looking at things from a different perspective really helped me change my mindset. It did not happen overnight, but with age, maturity and life experience, it widened my worldview and allowed me to see where I stand and what actually matters. I see material things in a different way and realize their importance. For example, owning property is nice, but knowing that it was something earned over a long period of time and brought about by good decision-making is really valuable. It is not necessarily the object, but the work done to obtain that object. That, of course, is not to say that I do not want material things, but something earned is better than something given.