Don't rush for money, rush for life.

Money. It's an entity that relates very closely to our lives. There are many people out there, who think that money is the ultimate aim. If you have money, you can have almost everything. At least when it comes to buying power. And it's true. In today's world, even fame can be bought by paying the right amount. Then how do we define the delicate interface with our needs on one side and lucrative buying power of money on the other?
I think many people out there have a vague sense of what they want. We, in the first place, do not want money in itself. We want to get something using that money. Money, by itself, has just one purpose. Giving us a sense of security that we have some definite amount of wealth reserved for ourselves that would sustain our needs in future. But of course, we are complex beings. And it's not about basic needs any more. We want the latest services, the latest gadgets, we want to think about saving time before actually investing time. But in this race to get what you want, please are you losing track of what you truly want?

The correct procedure would have been: You enjoy life at a moderate pace, think for yourself, and decide what you want. And then start thinking about saving the amount of money needed to avail that service while still saving enough for your regular life. But I have seen most people going the other way round. They invest minimal time in analysing whether they really want something or not. They start amassing money, investing more and more time in the money-making phase, and lesser in thinking what they would do with it. And then they get driven by the needs of others around them. The usual thought-let's have the money first. Money will get me everything. When I have enough in my account I will buy 'whatever I need'. And this goes on and on. Money by itself makes you greedy. Your account gives you a number, and as long as you see that number getting bigger, you don't care. Well, you should. Because that 'I will buy whatever I need' is a very grey area. People make enough money, but by now they are used to a lifestyle where money-making becomes the topmost priority. So they start buying shit. Anything that appeals a little and that they can get their hands on. Bring in everything latest, everything fashionable. What the fuck, I have the money man. Bring it on. Wait. Pause for sometime. Do you really think you need that? If you are not giving enough time to prioritise what you want, you are just wasting the money that you care so much about.

Let's think in terms of two photographers. Both loved photography equally and started out with similarly graded equipments. But the first one gave more time to it during the initial phase of his life. He refined his core concepts, and did not worry much about anything else. In spite of his job, he found time for his hobby. Now he does not have the best professional gadgets, but he has the journey of a lifetime that satisfies him and brings a smile on his face every time he looks at a shot. That moment comes rushing back to his mind. His photographs are much better in terms of quality considering his gear.

The second photographer always complained about lack of money and that he could not buy the best gear in the market. He did not pause to get the best out of what he had. He devoted his life to making huge amounts of money, but due to this, could not devote much time in learning and improving upon his photography. Recently he bought a 600 mm prime lens, and along with that a truckload of other expensive equipments that he thought would take him to the front-line of professionals. After using it for some time, he reflected back, and realised that he had not worked upon his hobby for so long. And now, even when he has the equipments he once fantasized about, he has the lost the hunger for creating art, and a big deal of time. His photographs are not in sync with his gear, and that keeps him dissatisfied. Here, I would consider the first guy as being better off. You can disagree, of course.

I am not saying don't make money. Make money, it's important. But after a certain level of financial security (the bare minimum that makes you feel safe and on firm ground), hack that greedy self that guides you to amass more and more wealth. Pause and look around. Think about where life's going. Think about what
could bring happiness in your life. Think what you are really passionate about. Then channelize and invest your hard-earned money accordingly. If you race your whole life thinking about making money, I feel your dream is very boring. You should have been a better dreamer. Neither are you respecting your own desires and your own self, nor the money that you are so crazy about.