What do we want from life?

20/06/2026 Nilson Lattari

Money is often one of the most coveted things, as wealth provides power over both people and circumstances. On the other hand, rich people are often flattered by those who do not have enough. They turn into new models of success, and their steps are followed by people who believe there is a pot of gold at the end of their teachings. Is this desire for money necessary?
What does abundance mean to you? Perhaps you think it is about achieving goals in your life, don’t you? In that case, which situations make you feel alive and dynamic, a witness to your generation, and truly rich?
Naturally, we live in a world where our survival depends on money and the assets we manage to accumulate. People invest to secure their future, knowing that with age their physical and mental conditions may decline and they may be pushed out of the job market. What’s more, the “old” only becomes older when the “new” appears, but an older person isn’t necessarily obsolete, just as being young doesn’t always mean being more advanced. Following this idea, abundance doesn’t always mean accumulating money to enjoy it forever.
The keyword is abundance, but what does it mean to you? What makes you happier: improving your quality of life or accumulating assets?
What is the link between a good lifestyle and taking advantage of life in order to gather as many material possessions as possible? Perhaps we cannot enjoy life if we use our time to exploit those who are poorer than us.
If there are both wealthy people and wealthy societies, this also means there are people and societies living in need. The question is: if wealth exists in the world, would these privileged people have time to enjoy it in safety?
If wealth were shared more equally and a more comfortable life were created for everyone, it might lead some people to abandon their greed and provide a new way of life for everyone.
Greed means pursuing goals and accumulating wealth out of selfishness. It is like depriving others of the opportunity to live comfortably and have food security. When we encourage these so-called competitions, we may be preventing people from thinking about their own lives.
My role models are those who refuse this struggle and care about others in need, encouraging them to understand their role in this world. In a way, we depend on entrepreneurs and those who thrive in this kind of competition. They are like adventurers who can create new possibilities to improve our lives for everyone’s benefit. However, those at the top are often there because others support and serve them. For those in power, it is often more important to maintain control over the majority than to use their abilities to change reality.
In the end, our idea of abundance should not be about accumulation and display; otherwise, it becomes nothing more than a form of selfishness.