I didn't see Harvey's message appear on ecopath so sent along
another copy. Sorry if this is a duplicate.... jeff
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Subject: Re: money
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2002 11:19:07 -0500
From: "Harvey Tjader" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Perhaps being content with who we are is more important than being
content with what we have.
Finding contentment in being humble is one of my challenges. Looking
forward to riding my bike in the rain on a cold day before the streets
have had their winter's worth of sand swept up, yesterday, it seemed
like a cold, wet and grimy task. I was tempted to ask someone for a
ride in the comfort of their car. I chose the more humble bike ride in
the rain and proceeded with contentment. The ride wasn't as bad as I
had anticipated.
Appreciating the value of history is an important element in the
"reduce, reuse, recycle" mantra. New things have little history and
what history they have may be negative (like things manufactured in a
sweatshop). Used things have more value because they have more history.
If they were manufactured in a sweatshop, your purchase of them at a
rummage sale or second-hand store does not implicate you in the guilt of
exploiting slave labor and facilitating the accumulation of wealth by a
bloated ruling class. I enjoy getting a book at the library or a used
book store and wondering while I read it who has read it before. I like
reading notes written in the margin of books from a used book store. I
enjoy hunting for clothes in a second hand store and finding treasure
that I couldn't have afforded when it was new or something nobody can
buy new any more because it is not in style.
During seven years of service on a volunteer fire department, I learned
that your most important material possessions might be photographs,
which are not replaceable by insurance. I try to remember to squirrel
some negatives away in a fireproof location.
>>> jeff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 4/11/2002 10:39:57 PM >>>
Money
Some attitudes about money that can improve
life:
1. Being content with what you have is the only
lasting contentment. Most people think they
would be happier if they had a little more, then
a little more, then more...
2. You can't take it with you. Life and money are
temporary states of being.
3. Money can buy comfort and pleasure after that it
is best shared or invested. The mistake most people
make is in thinking pleasure is happiness.
Some ways to conserve money
1. Avoid using money to impress others. The best
judge of wealth is oneself.
2. Avoid loans and credit like the plague.
3. Decide what is important in life and
how money fits into this definition.
4. Recognize that most insurance can not protect
the important things in life. Most annuties,
life insurance, etc. are poor use of money.
Understanding these ideas also improves our relationship with nature.
Everything is connected.
jeff
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