What Is Money?

Money is just a piece of linen and cotton mashed up together to form an 2.61 in x 6.14 in piece of paper.  Now a days most people only know a digital number in their bank account they regularly check on their laptop, ipad, iphone, or blackberry.  But really, what is money?  I know people who have it want more, and the people who don't have it also want more.  The capitalistic society we have influences the use: many people use their money to buy nice houses, cars, appliances, and other material goods to fulfill their need to fit in, look good, and feel good.

For those who are lucky enough to know me on a personal level, know over the years I have worked for my own money and have usually been pretty frugal with it.  Since I have been here, in Greece, money is a very popular topic for most of the people I have met and comes up regularly in conversation.  For instance, most of the Canadians love to talk about how their Looneys and Tooneys are now equivalent/higher than the US dollar.  I can neither confirm or deny these facts, the only conversion I am worried about right now is the USD to Euro, and it is awful.  Right now, in Greece, the hot topic of conversation is Greece's idea to withdraw from the Euro and implement their own currency (a never before accomplished feat).   I digress...

Why in today's society are we so obsessed with money?  Honestly, think about it you can't take it with you.  On your deathbed are you going to say "oh those Subzero appliances in my kitchen really made me happy, I wish I would have bought more,"  or are you going to say "wow, I wish I would have made more out of the relationships of the people in this world I truly care about."  With that being said, since I have been here, I find myself spending much more money on experiences and things that foster relationships with others, than I ever would back home.  Isn't that what life is all about, experiences and relationships with others?  One of our friend's parents, who came to visit here, got me thinking about all of this money business. Nora's mom said something that has stuck with me ever since, she said, "Money is just pieces of paper, people value it way to much in their lives. The way we look at it is, if you have money then spread it around, you put enough out their and it will eventually come back to you in full circle. Doesn't mean it will necessarily come back to you in money form, but it may come back as an amazing relationship or friendship. It's just good karma, you spread positive energy, the positive energy will come back to you."