Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof famously told G-d that if money is a curse, he would like G-d to smite him with it. This raises an important question. Is money a blessing or a curse?

The answer depends less on money than on us.

If you were content when you had little, but wealth placed you on the hedonic treadmill, then your money has become a curse. The more you own, the more you want. Yesterday you were happy with denim; today Gucci isn’t enough. Your clothes improved, but your peace of mind deteriorated.

Wealth can also become a curse by making us perpetual travelers. When you had little, you couldn’t afford to roam the world. You were always home, surrounded by friends, family, and community. Now January is in London, February in Rio, March in Davos, April in Tel Aviv. It sounds glamorous, but do you still have an anchor? You may own homes in every corner of the globe, but where are you truly at home? Sometimes the greatest luxury comes at the cost of belonging.

Or imagine that your wealth scattered your family. When you had little, everyone lived under one roof. The meals were modest, but the family experience was rich. Now one child lives on the Riviera, another on the ski slopes, a third in Dubai, and you sit alone in your palatial home. Does the extra space fulfill you, or does the silence drain your soul? Has your money become a prison that traps you?

A Story When the........

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