First, let’s acknowledge that we live in a society that uses money as the ultimate measuring stick. We form opinions from our perceptions of those who live in mansions, drive Jaguars, sip wine with names we can’t pronounce and price tags we can’t afford.
We admire the guy who wears Armani suits, a different one each day. We envy the self-made millionaire, even though it’s folly to think that he did it by himself. We gaze admiringly at the woman who has her hair done by someone who goes by a first name only. Whether it’s quaffed by George or Ernst or Shanteel, after the appropriate product is applied, it will look magnificent. Oh, maybe a little goofy … but ooh-la-la magnifico! That bird’s nest was built by Girard!
Jealous, who us?
Of course we are. Who wouldn’t want manicured nails every afternoon before caviar and cocktails? We’ve all heard it said, “I’ve been poor and I’ve been rich, and let me tell you, rich is a whole lot better.” Well, duh. Most of us have been poor and a whole lot poorer — and the former sure beats the latter by at least a couple of bucks.
And what about those pro athletes with their multimillion-dollar, five-year contracts or those technology moguls worth billions?