It’s Wednesday. What should we be complaining about today?
How about we have too many rich people?
Is this an Onion headline or something to augment the trigger list?
Sadly, it’s the latter.
Crowded resorts, airport lounges, and Italian vacations are becoming the 2025 version of the Black Plague.
In two recent blog posts, my colleagues Ben Carlson and Nick Magiulli pointed out all the sordid details.
From Ben:
There have never been more airport lounges. Yet there also have never seemed to be more lounges that are not worth the hassle. Many are forlorn. Many others are overcrowded; sometimes the lines for the lounges are the longest in the airport. Yet we all still fight to get in. Many of us will choose to fork over too much in credit card fees or commit to flying on one airline to gain entry to these spaces, because we still believe they offer a taste of luxury amid the stress of travel.
The solution to this catastrophe – Private Jets.
Nick spoke about his experience vacationing at a swanky Bahamas resort:
I saw it when I went on vacation to the Bahamas. I was told that Baha Mar was the place to go. It’s an expensive resort with a waterpark, casino, and many dining options. The only problem? There isn’t enough space for everyone to enjoy everything. If you don’t book ahead, good luck getting a reservation at one of their prized restaurants. If you don’t wake up early, forget about getting chairs by the pool.
I don’t blame Nick for being angry. Notwithstanding, we need to explore the weightier picture concerning why people who have more than ever dreamed are spending precious time agitated over luxuries that almost Eight Billion people couldn’t fathom acquiring?
Teddy Roosevelt once stated, Comparison is the thief of joy.
Focusing on what you want rather than what you have makes Jack a dim and insufferable person.
Dukkha is a central Buddhist concept translated into suffering, unsatisfactoriness, or stress. In a nutshell, everything is impermanent, and much of our anxiety is due to our lack of understanding of this universal concept. Boarding a private jet to journey to an exotic vacation is good. The problem is that the vacation will end, and you will return to work. However, each experience and acquisition brings temporary pleasure, resulting in more craving.
Retail therapy never lasts because, like everything else, it is fleeting. Our system of consumerism guarantees dissatisfaction because of the ephemeral joy of our purchases. In actuality, our pleasure is pain in disguise.
Hence, this is why so many rich people populate the complaint department.
The critical question emerges: how do we break our Dukkha cycle?
For one thing, cease comparing yourself to others and stop accepting their conception of success as your own.
It is crucial to find passions you enjoy rather than their ability to bring you clout.
My life is far from perfect, but the two things that provide the most satisfaction have nothing to do with fancy jets or ostentious displays of wealth—working out and gardening.
In the AM, I go to my garage and train. I keep track of my progress in this book.
The goal is to increase every workout with additional reps, weight, or time under stress. Progressive resistance forces me to stay in the moment, focus on today’s task, and not worry about tomorrow’s goals.
Naturally, I am limiting the Dukkha factor and eliminating the Comparison of myself to others.
Gardening provides similiar attributes. It’s impossible not to live in the moment since the change of seasons is inevitable. Roses won’t grow in the snow, and flowers don’t bloom in the desert. Gardens are constantly in flux, from nighttime to morning, especially after rainstorms. One would be a fool to believe temporary pleasure provides any permanence in this habitat. This revelation offers an incentive to enjoy the moment while it lasts.
Recently, I ordered some plants. The final bill was about $600. I can say with absolute certainty that the joy of planning their new home and watching them grow over time gives me infinitely more pleasure than purchasing a sports car for 10x that number.
Doing something for the satisfaction it gives you, not to impress others, is priceless.
You needn’t be concerned about the ever-swelling ranks of wealthy people. You won’t find true happiness in that crowd.
If you look hard enough, the answer is right inside of you.
