Money... Need Any? Happy Without?

Happy New Year to you and your family! I want to first give a big thank you for taking the time to visit Coach Your Mind ~ much appreciated. To those who have commented, an even bigger thank you, knowing how much time this can take, especially doing this on multiple blogs. I appreciate all feedback, as this is the only way improvement can be made. Health and happiness to you in 2010 and beyond!

Let me begin with two questions, as I believe answers can't be found until we ask those important questions...

~Do we need money in order to be happy?

~Who believes yes/no?

Where I live, we have two complete opposite ways of living... from the many homeless sleeping under Fig trees, to the supreme wealthy who haven't heard yet that our economy is on a downswing. By having these two extremes, I've heard and seen both sides of the coin, and more importantly, have experienced a little of both. My parents divorced when I was young, and fortunately (or unfortunately ~ my choice), I've been taught to believe the answer to the above question is both 'yes' and 'no.'

Are those without money the people who preach, "money doesn't make us happy?" Do they say this because they tried and failed to become wealthy, or have they found that true inner peace? Are they jealous of those who have brought home the green, watching them experience certain freedoms, secretly wishing those same freedoms would walk in their front door someday?

Are the families with the 6500 sq. ft. homes, 3 Mercedes and 1 useless Hummer parked in the driveway saying that without such wealth, they'd still be happy? Are they even "happy" to begin with? Would either trade places for a year or two? I believe with all of my soul that the poor, preaching the money doesn't make us happy gospel, would trade their life in a millisecond... whereas the rich wouldn't even consider that option, happy or not.

I completely understand that 'true happiness' can only begin from within... but why not have both? Am I going to teach Logan that total peace comes from your soul, but you can't have an overflowing bank account?

Taking our morning walk and listening to Logan talk to herself (most likely trying to disprove the Theory Of Relativity), I couldn't help but look up at those gorgeous homes and ask myself these types of questions... as it seems to have been burning a hole through my core since I was very young. "Does money make us happy? Would I be happier without it, or can I have both?" I think the reason I've struggled with this question stems from listening and watching the tug-o-war between both parents, as they've tried to prove to me why their answer was the correct one.

I guess that's the greatest part of any question... there are many different answers.

What's yours?