When the Israelites left Egypt to go to the promised land, they called it the glory land. It was still a better place for them to be than Egypt (they were slaves in Egypt). They knew there would be challenges ahead but that would pale in comparison to the pain of slavery. The glory land of financial freedom seems like a much better place for people stuck within the confines of poverty and financial struggle.

We know that John Travolta unfortunately lost his son recently. Even the rich have no executive power over their mortality. But that is not the issue here. Poor people die too, but the problem is that many are still dying everyday from preventable diseases that could be cured if they and their governments could afford the cost of treatment.

Can money buy happiness? Personally I think so. I think Britney Spears and Lyndsay Lohan can buy a lot of happiness and are free to do or be whatever they want. Peris Adhiambo and Waithera Kimani in Kibera slum in Kenya just don’t have that option.

As you say there are many marital problems with the rich. How about the marital problems of the poor? How about the impoverished women that are abused by their bread winning wayward husbands but cant do much about it because of their economic disadvantage?

I think it is a matter of looking at the glass as half full or half empty. Money is not the answer to all of life problems, but it goes along way to help reduce pain in an individual, community or country when used wisely. I wonder what other readers think of this.

One thing I’ll mention here is you wrote: “..the glory land of financial freedom.” As you’re aware, there are happy and unhappy rich people. There are rich people on drugs and in therapy/mentally unstable/suicidal (e.g. Lindsey Lohan and Britney Spears) and stable, happy rich people. Money can buy you better food, clothes, shelter and so on, which can definitely increase happiness, but it can’t buy kind, honest friends; completely ensure your kids are healthy (John Travolta’s son who died recently. He had an ongoing health problem) and ensure you of having a wonderful long and happy marriage (note all the rich movie stars who are on their upteenth marriage!). So you can be financially free, but be tormented by inner demons, health problems etc, so you’re not “free” in other aspects of your life.

I can guarantee if I was cold, starving and living in a slum my chances of being happy would be lower than if I had enough money to feed, cloth and house myself adequately, but judging by the many rich people who are in and out of rehab, going through a divorce and so on, being financially free does not guarantee your life will be joyous. What you do with the money, your attitute to money etc will greatly determine your level of happiness.

Cheers,
Nyomi

Since then the want changed to can and has since evolved to will. I will tell you why. I traveled to Kenya two years ago thinking with all the knowledge I have gained from overseas and some savings I could definitely make in back home. But what I found when I got home is my friends and peers that I had left at home were ahead and were still striving for more. The difference between us is not that I had been abroad for longer but the fact that they had moved on from the I can to the I will and they each had found the means to do it.

The five pillars above to financial freedom can only work for you once you believe you can. I know Obama uses “Yes we can” and it by now sounds like a cliche but it is true. Once you believe you can find out how you can and start working towards it.

R.