This winter, everyone is a little poorer than usual. But looking around, you might discover you’re wealthier than the next guy. Do you have time, talent or treasure to spare? Do you have a closet full of shoes you never wear? Extra school supplies in the junk drawer? Do you have an hour to watch your neighbor’s kid so he can run to a meeting or job interview?
If you are working now, surveys show you are working longer days with fewer vacations than ever before in America. So think about it. What are you working for? Food, shelter, health insurance, cable tv… people need money to live. And I’m not saying don’t earn more. If you want to get rich and you can, by all means go for it. But if you are caught in the egocentric cycle of working more to earn more to buy more stuff, then you might be missing out on living a healthier, balanced lifestyle.
Take a look outside yourself. Maybe your neighbor’s house isn’t burning down, but maybe, figuratively, it is. Look for opportunities to share something with somebody today. You will be better off for doing it, and richer, too, on the inside.
Julie Desmond is Director of Career Planning Resources at Help Wanted Workshop in Minneapolis. Please send your career planning questions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
