Intro to College Writing Reflection/Final
Over the course of this class, my perspective on money and whether it makes us happy has changed. Before the start of second semester, I always believed that money did make someone happy, as most of my most memorable experiences are linked to money in some way. But, after reading several essays within the assigned class textbook, I concluded that was not the case. For example, in the short essay What’s so Bad About Being Poor, by author Charles Murray, he states that living in poverty is not such a bad lifestyle, and if anything, it builds character. He states that “To be poor is not necessarily to be without dignity, it is not necessarily to be unhappy” (P. 26). In this quote, he is explaining that individuals living in poverty are not automatically unhappy, and if they are, the fact that they do not have money is not linked to that. Murray explains that unhappiness stems from something that is much more complex than money. Author David Myers also
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Not only about what I learned from it when it came to becoming a stronger writer, but also the questions raised within it that caused me to stop and think. One of the biggest topics discussed in class that caused me to stay up at night was about mothers. The essay The Price of Motherhood, written by author Ann Crittenden explains the countless hardships that a mother suffers through to raise a child, hardships that often go unnoticed. These include teaching their child from right and wrong, and helping develop their unique characteristics. Although these are all important characteristics, it is something that cannot be seen on a resume. Before this topic was introduced, it was something that never crossed my mind. Although I have always believed that a mother's job is hard work, the extent of the balance between work and personal life was not realized until reading this essay, and summarizing
The notion that people can live without money, and be content without money, is not a new concept. Countless people in the world believe that money is potentially damaging our society today.Many books have been written, and numerous studies have been concurred; which describe individuals that come from a life of wealth; that eventually strive to abandon its monetary values due to money 's influence and corruption, such as Chris McCandless from Into The Wild. Society today is driven by money, as we are constantly trying to achieve wealth and a higher status than others; even at a young age. These pressures of money may actually be what what is causing so much stress and anxiety, and is constantly shaping how our brains function. Books such as
The story I chose for this analysis is “Why, you reckon?” by Langston Hughes. IN this analysis I will be focusing on how the great depression in Harlem had effect on the story, how racism played a part, and how or if the characters were justifyied in their actions. During this time period the intense racial divide combined with the economic harships that plagued the U.S. during the 1923’s makes for an interesting story that makes you think if the charaters were really justified.
Happiness is a feeling adults experience when they receive a gift, win something, and various other reasons, but does money buy this happiness everyone experiences? Don Peck and Ross Douthat claim money does buy happiness, but only to a point in their article which originally appeared in the Atlantic Monthly (252). Throughout their article, reasons on why money can sometimes buy happiness are explained. While some of the reasons given are effective, not all are satisfying answers for adults working diligently to make a living. Money is a part of everyone’s life, yet it is not always the cause of happiness.
In today’s world, you look around and see people that are happy, and others that are not. The people that are happy usually come from a family that is financially stable. People like these have reasons to be joyful. They do not have so many issues; stress and pressure, to deal with. The people that are not happy are usually low-income people. These people have tougher times because they have so many issues in their hands. Wealth helps significantly when it comes to the topic of happiness. Wealth positively influences people’s happiness overall. Wealthy people do not suffer as much as low-income people. Wealth also builds people’s egos because they get a feel of success.
When none of us has ever come across such words and formulas, none of the great personalities has ever mentioned it, then who the hell has instilled it in our minds that money brings happiness. But among this debate one question still raises its head - What is happiness? Happiness is not actually leading a luxurious life but the luxury of living a life. Happiness is not actually about expanding your business, but it lies in expanding the horizons of life. Happiness is not having a meal in the most famous restaurant but to have it with your most beloved family. It does not lie in attending honorable parties but to attend a party with honor.
Having a minimum amount of money is necessary to be happy. Having the minimum amount of money to pay bills, have medical assistance, buy groceries, and clothing is considered as the basics needed for one to be happy. Money is a tool that can help a person obtain objects that can help him or her to have a comfortable life. However, money should not become the reason why a person is happy. Happiness comes within a person as a human being, and money will never replace a friend, nor a loved one.
For some, happiness is all that matters. Happiness is achieved in many ways, and it doesn’t always involve money. There are many things that contribute to making a person feel happy and successful. One can feel successful without a lot of money at all. For example, feeling loved is something that makes everyone happy. Many believe that without love life is not thoroughly complete, thus never truly achieving success. Ones line of work can also affect how happy he is. Some feel that it is more important to enjoy work and get less money than it is to hate work and get paid more. Another factor in achieving psychological success is ones ability to enjoy what life gives him. There are many qualities of life that are overlooked. Everyone is dealt family and it is important to value that.
As money can be really important, alongside to food to eat, a house to live in, and places to go from here to there, but for all of those things, you need money. So that’s when “money can buy happiness” expression comes in because many people think that since money can buy everything they want in life, then it can easily buy happiness. My parents lived a decent life style, they had the amount of an average person in Amman Jordan. Meaning that we weren 't filthy rich, but we also weren 't poor either. The amount of money we had was enough to make us happy. We didn’t struggle with anything like food or other necessities we needed. My parents always say that "it’s better than nothing" because looking at others who don’t have much money makes me
It is highly debated, but ultimately incorrect. The closest correlation found on this topic was in a study conducted by Stanford, an Ivy League business school. With their findings, we can concur that the only way money can make someone truly happy, is by spending it in constructive ways to help others. With that, it is safe to say that if someone finds themselves unsatisfied with their live and wealth, that they could use it for the greater good. They should put it into charities, or as simple as buying a friend a meal. Whatever it may be, use the money for others. And that is really how money can buy
Money is probably one of the most important things in this world. Without it, life would be very hard. With it, you become economically stable making life would be easier in some ways. But the real question is, can money actually make someone physically and emotionally happy? There are many sides to this debate; some who say yes and others who say no. Though most people agree with the statement, “Money doesn’t buy happiness,” there is still a large amount of people who disagree with it. They believe that money does indeed buy happiness and that it’s the most important thing in the world. There is no right or wrong answer to this question, it’s just a matter of what you believe in and your values.
Although it has been said that money is the root of all evil, many people actually believe that they would be happier if they were wealthier. Could this be correct? This essay will support the thesis that not only does the pursuit of wealth not lead to happiness; it may actually make us unhappy.
I never really thought the expression, “money can’t buy happiness”, was true. As an infant, just by observing the people around me, I observed when they would obtain money and a huge grin would spread across their face, the corners of their smile spreading from ear to ear. Whenever I would see that grin and a person’s face light up at the sight of a crisp, green bill it would make me believe that I had proved the famous expression wrong. Now that I’ve grown up and matured, my idea of that expression has changed. As of now, I am able to reflect on life more and look deeper into things and particularly into people more than I was able to do years ago. My ideas about this expression changed the most though because of the money situation my family had stumbled upon because of the failing economy. I remember being younger when the economy was doing well and waking up to twenty gifts for each of my three sisters and I. We used to believe that all of those presents, brought in because of money of course, were the best part of waking up on Christmas. Of course all of those toys and material items would make a child happy; however looking back it would only make them happy if it was given to them by somebody who bought it for them with love.
Some have even suggested that this moderate connection might be exaggerated. In reality, money might have very little to do with happiness at all. Most puzzling, though, is that people often seem aware at some level that money won’t make them happy. And yet they continue to work away, earning money they don’t objectively need. First, though, let’s look at the three reasons money doesn’t make us happy.
Money and Happiness are two things that we have all given a lot thought. We put lots of effort into these two things either trying to earn them or trying to increase them. The connection we make between money and happiness is strange because they are two very different concepts. Money is tangible, you can quantify it, and know exactly how much of it you have at any given time. Happiness, on the other hand, is subjective, elusive, has different meanings for different people and despite the efforts of behavioral scientist and psychologist alike, there is no definitive way to measure happiness. In other word, counting happiness is much more difficult than counting dollar bills. How can we possibly make this connection? Well, money, specifically in large quantity, allows for the freedom to do and have anything you want. And in simplest term, happiness can be thought of as life satisfaction and enjoyment. So wouldn’t it make sense that the ability to do everything you desire, result in greater satisfaction with your life.
However, after learning about the good life in the views of Aristotle, it is safe to say that the idea of happiness has entirely changed. Money, although helpful, only causes pain. It seems to me that once you start earning money, you will want more than what you need and you will grow to become greedy. I would rather live happily having a job that I love to do, wake up every morning to the same cup of cheap coffee, and read every day to my heart's content than to turn greedy for money. Moreover, money is not materialistic to me and cannot buy my happiness, so I will live by Aristotle's words and live my life with the intent of my actions leading to my happiness.