The best commentary I heard so far this month came from the front seat of a Grab car in Singapore. He was quiet for most of the ride but along the way he began sharing his thoughts on the meaning of life. His observation was that many Singaporeans were so busy chasing wealth and fame that they had forgotten their roots.
Some, he said, needed spiritual balance and guidance. They had come to believe money was everything and had started looking down on those who had less.
Singapore has every reason to be proud of what it has achieved. A small island with few natural resources has become one of the wealthiest places in the world. For the generation that built it, money was often about family, looking after ageing parents and giving the next generation a better start. Money was the tool, not the destination.
Somewhere along the way, that distinction seems to have been lost. The pursuit of wealth has become an obsession for many and the mental stress that comes with it is increasingly hard to ignore.
Singapore is hardly alone. The same problem exists in many parts of the world where people are constantly chasing the next promotion, the bigger house or the next million.
I have spent years meditating and one thing I have learnt is that an anchored mind does not need to chase everything. That does not mean giving up ambition or the desire to make money. I certainly have not. It simply means knowing what matters and not allowing the pursuit of wealth to take over everything else.
When we arrived, I thanked the driver and went on with my day. He probably has no idea that our conversation would end up in my blog. I do not know how much he earns but he may well be richer in ways that do not show up in a bank statement.
After all, we spend so much time figuring out how to make more money. Perhaps we should spend a little more time figuring out what we want it for.