Does money make you happy?

When preparing for an Eden presentation I'll be holding tomorrow, I came upon this picture (taken by an Eden field worker) which I just had to share.

Copyright Eden Foundation

I seem to be one of the few Western/African bloggers who do not believe that technology is going to solve Africa's numerous issues. I am fortunate however to be working with the least developed area of the least developed country in the world, where "the poor" laugh and the children are full of life.

There's a funny thing about the world I was born into. We keep telling ourselves that money doesn't buy happiness, but any time I turn on the TV or listen to the prominent voices directing potential buyers into an even narrower capitalistic society which is meant to add more items to your material collection which in turn is supposed to make you feel better about yourself - I wonder how our logic adds up. We say money doesn't buy happiness, but I really wonder - does anybody in the Western world still believe that? If so, why do we keep on buying so much and why do we continue pushing our own lifestyle onto every other society whenever we have the chance?

In my book, there is beauty in contentment. Having "enough" is an incredible wealth and fills most of us with satisfaction. Having more than one knows what to do with only makes life complicated. It is my personal belief that neither technology nor financial investments will ever save Africa from poverty, but the Eden trees growing in Tanout are bringing hope and inspiration as we speak.

Copyright Eden Foundation

And I am happy just to be a part of it.

Ishtar

Precious moments

Our lives are filled with precious moments, but often we're so busy we don't have the time to notice, and that is makes them so rare. Sometimes we're sad and lonely, and that takes the joy away as well. But life makes so much more sense if we look at what we have, instead of what we're lacking. I have always marveled at how the fingerless and toeless leprous of Zinder can possess such genuine and immense joy. I am not kidding when I say that we - "the developed" - have a lot to learn from the poor.

So take a moment. Look around and see all the things you have to be grateful of. Spend some time with the people that matter. Listen to what others have to say. Do something for someone else that you think will make a big difference in his/her life. You'll be surprised at how much you gain from it yourself.

We only live once, and although we seem to be spending most of our time chasing that outstanding dream that is meant to give us the recognition we've been wanting for so long, it's in fact the little things that count and that add up to a life filled with satisfaction.

One day when walking through the market of Zinder, I will stop by and ask the leprous how come they are always so cheerful. Perhaps they will not know why, but there is a chance that they will give me a seemingly unlogical answer. Why? Because it will probably be very existentialistic and very simple; and the world I was born into doesn't care for simple answers.

But once you've met the lepers, you will go through life wondering how people whose hands and feet are withering away can possess such genuine joy. You will look for the small things that make life so valuable; and once you've found it, you'll will not understand how you could ever do without. That, to me, is life quality, built on seemingly simple little precious moments that add up and give my life meaning and joy.

And just imagine: it's there for everyone.

Ishtar