It's Not About the Money

It's Not About The Money

When I was in high school, a freshman at that time, I remember one of my teachers commenting on how awful and disheartening the economy was back in 1992. He went on to say that many people were losing their jobs and that it would take a couple of years for the economy to recover. He advised everyone in class to focus on our education and to choose our careers wisely. However, during my high school years I chose to focus on how to earn lots of money. But is money is what life is all about?

I began to focus on money at a very early age because most of my friends had the trendy shoes, the toys and the clothing, and even an allowance. I wanted that. I wanted to be like them.

But I could not be like them because my parents did not have the income; my parents were struggling to buy the most important thing-food, therefore, toys, new clothing and trendy shoes were definitely out of the question.

Yes, my parents could not afford much back then, but I not too long ago I realized that they never complained about money. I never heard them fight or argue about money, they seemed to be happy with what they had.

I was not happy with what I had though, but I never told them that. I kept that secret deeply embedded in my subconscious telling myself that I would one day "have lots of money and be happy." My mom once told me that life wasn't just about the money, but I did not listen. I was bitter and angry.

What ripped the guts out of me was when one of my high school friends use to tease me about wearing the same clothe over and over again, this recapitulated some of the emotions I carried with me when I was living in El Salvador- some my friends and cousins would tell me that I looked like a walking portrait because I would wear the same clothes every other day, stirring things up inside of me. I thought about money. I wanted lots of it. I thought money would cure all of the of the humiliations, so I focused on it with all of my heart and with all of my soul.

Marching right along through high school and junior college, I created my own Field of Dreams, thinking that if "you can dream it, it would come" approach. I devoured books and listened to countless CD's on how to run a business and always remembering one of my favorite quotes: "if it is to be. It will be me".

Inspired by all of the motivational speakers and Abraham Lincoln's relentless attitude of never giving up, I began to run a successful business. My savings account grew each month. But sadly, I began to buy things that I thought would make me feel better: a new wardrobe, many pairs of shoes, the toys, the brand new Mercedes, the house, the vacations.

After all the years of humiliation, I had finally made it big. I showed off my "trophies"