Are we ever content with what we have?

My guess is that money IS the problem. I'm thinking that when our basic needs (water, food, shelter, etc.) have been met, it allows us the time to spend thinking about ourselves, our needs, our wants, our desires. It's all about the self. I imagine that if I were busy working to get enough food for my children, my thoughts would be filled with them and with day-to-day survival.

Money isn't the problem. It's our perspective on life which is the problem. We are so indulged in this materialistic world, leaving no room for our spiritual needs. We can't be happy with money; that's not even the question. What makes a human mind happy is submission to God and service of mankind for His pleasure. With that in mind, rich and poor alike would be happy and would help each other in times of need. Because if money, fame and career was everything like was about, people like Britney Spears wouldn't be mental patients and Paris Hilton wouldn't be a Prosaic addict.

Money isn't the problem at all. People in general are the problem...

People are greedy, selfish, uncaring, disrespectful, arrogant, cruel! People don't care about anything or anyone. Half the time they don't even seem to care about themselves.

People will never be happy. Any one person could have everything they could ever require, or want in life and still not be happy. People always want more and more and more and more... they never stop wanting! It isn't in their will power to stop wanting.

Though there are the few, very few, that want only few things in life. Like their family to be safe, healthy and happy.

So cynical so young.
I am quite content with what I have in this world.
A husband who loves me and his family.
2 sons who are wonderful human beings.
1 daughter in law who loves her husband and is raising 3 great children.
3 pets who mean the world to us.
Money enough to have fun with and enough to help out others who need it.
Sons included if necessary.
We own our house and 2 vehicles so we can get around when we have to leave town for any reason.
The only thing I am not content with is my health.
Which is the major reason I do not have anything to do with a god.
I love people and I love to help when I can.
There are lots of people like me you just don't hear about them because they are happy and have nothing much to complain about.
Maybe it is a case of being older you have learned what is important and what is just the fluff.

I don't see anything cynical here. I see speak55 noticing that too many people are focused on money, on buying stuff, and that we need to be more grateful and recognize how blessed we are to have so much.

That kind of pondering might be a good basis/springboard for someone to later teach their kids the value of work, of community service, of saving, etc., and to maybe have the kind of positive and happy family that you describe yourself as having.

You know the only time I worry about money is when either of my children have to go to their specialist. Both have health problems, my daughters is quite serious. But I honestly don't care about money. All I care about is my children.

But without money, my daughter would be dead right now. So when it comes down to the crunch, money can be part of the problem, but it isn't really. It is only a problem because people make it a problem. People see that we can't live without medical help, food, shelter, transportation, and so they make sure that what we require to survive, is as expensive as possible.

So you see, at the end of the day, people are the problem and not money... Those who have money, arent happy, because they feel that they have to compete with others that do. They always want more and more. They feel they have to buy love and friendship, and happiness. But those who have nothing, or very little, they know that the people around them love them and want to be around them for who they are. So they don't have to fill up their homes with material possessions.

It is better to live in poverty, than to have riches beyond belief. Because usually, a poor man is far richer than a rich man. Why? Because the poor man is always surrounded by those who care.

I grew up in a family where possessions and appearances were the be all and end all of existence.
I hated it so I was determined not to live that life style.
In my family my husband is a bum. Well he was until we bought our first house 12 years ago.
He made over $100,000 a year but as a miner we were always in the position of having to move. So we decided to rent instead of owning. My parents grew up in the era that you got married your first big purchase was a house. So that made Don a bum.
Our children had what they needed and a bit extra so they grew up knowing what was necessary and what was for fun. They still have those values.
I know many wealthy people who are happy with what they have and share their bounty.
I also know many wealthy people who buy to the limit and are still struggling with bills and happiness. Never content.
Many poor people or lower middle class have learned to accept their place and don't try to change it.
That is ok but if they are poor and are working to change the situation that is also fine.
It is the people who are not happy with their station in life and complain or blame with every waking breath. These are the ones who need to sit down and take a look at their lives and change what they can.
Until they either change or accept their lives they will never be happy or content no matter how rich they become.