Visions of Paris Hilton began dancing through my head when I read this prompt. She could be the poster child for Wealth Without Work. Or maybe Fame Without Talent (is that another of Ghandi's Seven Dangers?). Of course, there are other ways of becoming wealthy without working besides inheriting the money—enticements such as the lotteries, Las Vegas, Wall Street, and other get-rich-quick schemes are everywhere we look. I’ve never been much of a gambler, especially when the odds of winning are very low.
My daughter Julie, always one to march to the beat of a different drummer, used to say that she wanted to be a starving artist when she grew up—the polar opposite of wealth without work. The idea of using her creativity to barely eke out a living was an appealing, romantic notion to her.
I surely don't know through personal experience, but I've heard it said that wealth without work is not nearly as fulfilling as fortune obtained through blood, sweat and tears. Following this train of thought, a child that does chores to earn an allowance and buy the toy that he wants will cherish that toy much more than a child who receives the toy as a gift. I didn’t get an allowance as a child; the first money I earned was from babysitting some of the neighborhood children. I remember saving to buy a Lovin’ Spoonful album that I wanted at the time. I cherished the album, but then I think I would have loved it just as much if I’d received it as a gift. Although it does sound a little boring to me, I’m just not 100% convinced of the dangers of wealth without work. If volunteers are needed to test the theory, keep me in mind—I’m your girl!
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