Money solves all problems.

The idea that money does not solve people's problems has been a double-edged sword for me. Of course, money will not heal your illness or your heartache, but it affords you access to medical and mental health care to support you through difficulties. In almost all circumstances, having money is better than not having money.

I'd be remiss not to mention that we're not in a binary playground where it's just having or not having money; there is a whole spectrum of how much money one can have, and the size and shape of that spectrum are dynamic based on the environment. Do you make an annual salary of $200k? Amazing in most places, you'll live like a king -- but in the Bay Area, you'll have trouble affording a house unless you're clearing at least $500k, and even then you'll be far from a large swath of folks who rake in millions per year.

My curiosity stands though -- how can people with significant sums of money still complain about their life and circumstances? I am thinking upper class to the 1% here -- people who can afford to stop working and maintain a quality of life where material needs are met. You can afford to go out to eat every day and take a luxurious vacation a couple of times a year.

As I write this, it's not lost on me that these terms "needs" and "luxurious" are themselves subjective and dynamic -- what they mean to me are very different from what they mean to another. I met a woman recently whose definition of financial freedom includes being able to take spontaneous $20-30k vacations to the Arctic and other parts of the world her social circles want to take her to. To some, that's lavish, and to others, that's a modest sum to spend on their adventures -- or their expenses are simply scaled higher because they have loved ones and children that they want to take along. So, expenses can add up quickly and our sense of how much money we need can multiply naturally without a vigilant eye on spending creep.

Never underestimate the power of the human mind to create suffering -- that's no slight on the rich but an ingrained part of our evolution. I hear countless stories of multi-millionaires being dissatisfied with their lives, leading them into an eat-pray-love journey of some kind that hopefully fills the gaping hole in their soul. And that suffering is indeed real -- they are in pain. At the same time, a founder with a multi-million dollar exit has options and luxury to eat-pray-love to their heart's content. Barring reckless spending, there is no longer a financial consequence to stopping to accrue money after a threshold is met. If you've netted $20 million, a modest 4% return from the market gets you an $800k salary. That's a fat paycheck that can support a luxurious lifestyle.

My mind goes to those who don't have money or whose income generation is closer to the average. They may have to make choices about what care to prioritize. They too may hate the grind and feel a meaninglessness in their work. They can't, however, afford to travel to Bali for months to find themselves without a serious financial downside, whether halting a career or burning through savings. Money creates optionality. They may need mental health care, and a certain provider may be extremely well suited to their needs -- but they can't afford the $200-400 out-of-pocket cost per session, and their insurance won't cover it. Financial cushion gives people the ability to make the choice to seek care without it being a compromising, painful choice.

I think back to a friend whose sister has had many health struggles throughout her life, so much so that she has not been able to hold a job and support herself even as she approaches her 30s. Without the generous support of her parents, her journey through life would be much rougher. She would not have been able to seek the mental and medical health care she needed. She would not have been able to afford a safe, comfortable apartment in the heart of Los Angeles. Her life was given comfort and grace. The money saved her from what could've been a much darker fate.

Money solves problems, yes. Plot twist, it also creates problems. I look forward to exploring that aspect soon.