tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871742207205135256.post2431260397843939575..comments2023-10-09T03:22:07.261-07:00Comments on Creativity & Life Coaching: Sadness = An Opportunity to CreateSherrie Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07084637467459631797noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5871742207205135256.post-32956992577285190802009-04-09T11:35:00.000-07:002009-04-09T11:35:00.000-07:00I used to think as you do: that lots of money mean...I used to think as you do: that lots of money means one can not or should not be sad.<BR/>And I've said jokingly, "Anyone who thinks that money can't buy happiness just doesn't know where to shop."<BR/>But having worked with literally thousands of extremely wealthy people over the course of my career, I can say with assurance that wealth does not confer immunity from sadness.<BR/>One couple I know, with many millions of dollars, always answers when people tell them how lucky they are to be so rich: "We inherited this money when our beloved parents all died within two years. We would trade every dollar for one more day with any of them. We miss our mothers and we miss our fathers, and no amount of money can ever bring them back, and having this money is a constant reminder that they are no longer with us."<BR/>Money doesn't cure an incurable disease. Money doesn't stop a father's sadness when his son has a chronic condition for which medical science has not yet found a cure.<BR/>Money doesn't stop your sadness when terrorists fly a plane into a building.<BR/>Money doesn't insulate you from sadness when your pet dies, or your eyesight fails.<BR/>One of my oldest friends, who was far from rich when we met, married someone with a famous name and a lot of money. They have a magnificent estate where they have given many parties for charity, where they have lived together for many years. One day they came home to find that their longtime caretaker had murdered his wife, committed suicide, and set their home on fire.<BR/>They are still rich, but how will that alleviate their unspeakable sadness?<BR/>I can't blame you for believing that money can insulate you from sadness - I used to think the same thing, until I realized that money simply can't do that. Money might enable you to employ more resources to cope with sadness, such as working with mental health professionals, or taking other action that might help.<BR/>But sadness is sadness, and there is some pain in the human condition that a person's net worth can't erase.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12807038696957815899noreply@blogger.com