OCR Text |
Show Volume VIII Issue XI THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 13 September 15, 2003 Why Money Can’t Buy Happiness By Jennifer Duke Note: The following is an essay that was submitted in response to The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS’ monthly essay contest. Jennifer, who is from Huntsville, will receive a $20.00 gift certificate from “Hastings” for her winning entry. I once had a dream that I lived in a mansion overflowing with amenities such as a private jet parked in the driveway next to four Hummers and a roller coaster in the back yard. I gazed out of my window at my Olympic size swimming pool. It was then that I awoke from my dream to the shop-tillyou-drop, “retail therapy” culture that I am living in today where money can’t buy happiness and happiness can’t buy anything. I had awakened to myself still holding the dagger and voodoo doll of my boss, with my tuition expenses from the college’s financial aide office still on the table in front of me. My name was nowhere to be found on the Forbes listing of the richest people in America. Someone must have made a mistake because I have it all! I have time to fill, sunsets to admire each night, my intellect to keep me busy, friends and family by my side, and people to have conversations with. I consider myself a millionaire! The marketing industry considers you a millionaire, only if you buy their product. In their eyes money can’t buy happiness unless they can make something, call it “Happiness,” and sell it. This is where we get snared into the money hungry marketing madness trap! Have you ever noticed that there are 13 stars on the on the seal of the United States above the Eagle on the back of a dollar bill? The Bald Eagle on the back of a dollar bill is also holding 13 daggers. On the back of a dollar bill there are 13 steps in the pyramid, 13 letters in “E Pluribus Unum,” and 13 leaves on the olive branch in the Eagle’s hand. It is a well-known fact that thirteen is a very unlucky number, which is why there are never 13 floors in any hotel. I have always been told that money itself cannot be bad because it is a thing like a boulder, a stool, or an oven. I believe this; it’s the pursuit of money that leads to the grave because of the dichotomy of two sides to every penny. Economist Andrew Oswald once said, “It seems extra income is not contributing dramatically to the quality of people’s lives.” The quality of people’s lives isn’t changing because money can’t buy happiness. Money can buy you a pleasing dog, but it certainly won’t buy the wag of its tail. Money is not the root of the tree of life. Money can’t buy sunsets, smiles, time (though the IT industry thinks it can), relationships, memories, the future (though the pet psychic thinks it can), and conversations. You can’t hold a meaningful conversation with a ten-dollar bill; believe me I’ve tried. A million dollars would be worthless if you didn’t have people to share it with! Money can buy possessions, but it cannot buy relationships. This can be learned by simply telling a cop, “I’ll give you $20 if you’ll be my friend and not write me the speeding ticket.” This maneuver rarely works! Robert Frost shed some light on why money can’t buy happiness by saying, “A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain.” Somewhere on the roller coaster of life we have become immune to enjoying the ecstasy of the ride. Rather than enjoying the excursion, we have conditioned ourselves to champion the mediocre phrase, “are we there yet?” We will never be happy with ourselves because money has set us on a course with no destination. No matter where we are on the ride, we will never stop asking, “are we there yet?” It isn’t until we become content with our circumstances in life that we will inherit true happiness. The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Hosts Essay Contests The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS staff is seeking entries for their monthly essay contests. One winning entry may be chosen each month, and printed in the paper. The winning entrant will receive a $20.00 gift certificate from Hastings. Students of all ages are encouraged to participate. Themes for the 2003 are: October: Why Money Can’t Buy Happiness November: My Idea of a Perfect Christmas December: What Does it Mean to Be a Friend? OGDEN VALLEY NEWS to use at the business owners’ discretion. Entries will not be returned. All entries must be typed or computer written in 12 pt., Times New Roman font. The essay should not exceed 2500 words, but should be at least 400 words. All entries must be received by the 18th of each month. Entries must include the name and age, mailing address, and telephone number of applicant. Mail entries to: OGDEN VALLEY NEWS PO BOX 130 EDEN UT 84310 Email to: All entries become the property of the shannafrancis@att.net crwendell@att.net Zions Bank Helps Prepare Utah Youth for World of Financial Choices —Bank launches BankHighSchool.com Website dedicated to financial education of high school students Survey after survey shows the dismal and sinking state of financial knowledge by high school students. A 2002 survey by the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy found 68.1 percent of high school seniors with failing scores when it comes to financial literacy, a significant increase over the 59.1 percent who failed in 2000 and the 44.2 percent who failed in 1997. The survey of 12th graders found an average score of just 50.2 percent on a practical 31 question multiple-choice examination designed by educators. “We are increasingly concerned that today’s youth are not being prepared to make smart financial choices in an ever increasingly complex financial world,” said Scott Anderson, president and CEO of Zions Bank. A new initiative being launched this school year by Zions Bank is a financial literacy website designed specifically for high school students - BankHighSchool.com. Launched on the heels of last year’s BankJr.com, which is designed for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade, BankHighSchool.com features a variety of resources to help educate high school students on finances, and provides parents and teachers with an aid in helping to teach their older children about money. “With personal bankruptcies at an all-time high—one in every 34 Utah households—and with credit more easily obtainable than ever, there is a critical need to teach our youth about finances and how to manage their money,” said Anderson. Julie Felshaw, economic education specialist for the state of Utah, lauds BankHighSchool as a great step forward in adding to the supplementary material available through high school business courses. “I appreciate this effort and the contribution to education by Zions Bank,” said Felshaw. “Zions Bank has provided this extensive content as a critical resource, which enriches the educational possibilities available to our young people.” BankHighSchool, found on the Internet at www.bankhs.com (or www.bankhighschool.com), is organized by topics of interest. These topics were identified as the site’s developers sought feedback from local high school classes. “Cars” surfaced as the top area of interest, and BankHighSchool features a section on buying, financing, and caring for a car. Other major sections on the site include Money, Education, Work, and Business. Students and teachers will also benefit from material on the website that supports existing high school elective courses. For example, the Business section of the site offers class-related information about economics, finance, taxes, marketing, banking, accounting, entrepreneurship, and international business. Additionally, BankHighSchool will eventually include material to help prepare students for the mandated financial literacy competency test. Curriculum is currently being developed by the Utah State Office of Education in response to the passage of Senate Bill 154 during the 2003 Utah legislative session. “BankHighSchool.com is representative of Zions Bank’s ongoing commitment to help young people learn about basic economics and personal finance,” said Anderson. In addition to the online resources offered through BankJr.com and BankHighSchool.com, hundreds of Zions Bank employees visit classrooms throughout the state each year to teach financial basics. “From teaching Kindergarten children the principle of saving to helping high school seniors better understand credit, Zions Bank is committed to helping educate students before they are forced to learn from the school of hard knocks.” Zions Bank is Utah’s oldest financial institution, and is the only local bank with a statewide distribution of branches, operating 124 full service branches throughout Utah. Zions Bank also operates 22 full service branches in Idaho, and more than 200 ATMs throughout Utah and Idaho. In addition to a wide range of traditional banking services, Zions offers a comprehensive array of investment, mortgage, and insurance services, and has a network of loan origination offices for small businesses nationwide. The company is also a leader in providing electronic banking services, including electronic municipal bond trading. Founded in 1873, Zions has been serving the communities of Utah for 130 years. Additional information on Zions Bank is available at www.zionsbank.com Subscriptions available for out of area residents at $18.00 annually. Send payment with mailing address to: THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS P O BOX 130 EDEN UT 84310 VALLEY REALTOR versus down town realtor YOU DECIDE. SOLD You decide who you want on your team. * Valley Realtors know this area. * Valley Realtors work, shop and play here. * Valley Realtors families go to school, church and work here. * Valley Realtors Care about the Valley because they live here. * Valley Realtors donate thousands of hours of community service here. * Valley Realtors sell more homes, lots, land and condominiums. * Valley Realtors money stays in the Valley helping to support your businesses. EDEN $105,000 3615 Wolf Creek Drive #606 2 BD, 2 BA End unit condo Fully furnished. Paul Judd 814-5667. MLS# 374849 LIBERTY $239,000 3183 East 5400 North. Tons of home for the money. 6BD, 3 BA, FR, Fenced yard. Paul Judd 814-5667. MLS# 368198 Sale Pending NORDIC VALLEY 3790 East 1950 North. Paul Judd 814-5667. MLS# 328840 $185,000 Sale Pending Call Paul L. Judd 801-745-5667 Serving the Upper Valley for 19 years. 2003 CLOSED SALES ARE UP 33% OVER 2002 THUS FAR HUNTSVILLE $500,000 6900 E Street. Lake shore property! Has subdivision possibilities. Paul Judd 814-5667. MLS# 335628 LIBERTY $189,900 3450 North 5100 East. Ready to build. Has all utilities. Stream runs through it. Paul Judd 814-5667. MLS# 333889 HUNTSVILLE $93,900 1100 N. Maple Dr. Beautiful secluded canyon homesite w/ terrific views of mountains and valley. Paul Judd 814-5667. MLS# 357031 LIBERTY $45,000 3300 N. Hwy 162. Level lot on main road with seasonal stream. Paul Judd 814-5667. MLS#362486 HUNTSVILLE $39,900 588 Mill Road. Private gated community. Hard to find Causey Estates building lot. Paul Judd 814-5667. MLS# 346635 Paul L. Judd Manager/Broker/Owner Great American Realty Multi Million Dollar Producer for past 15+ years 7 4 5 -6 0 0 0 5460 E. 2200 N. Eden, Utah 814-5667 Cell phone 745-6000 Office 745-5667 Home Anytime |