How do you measure your quality of life?

He or she who dies with the most toys wins.

Really?

Who really cares about your big screen plasma or HDTV?

Who really cares about your new  luxury car?

Who really cares about your Lululemon yoga outfit?

Who really cares about 67 pairs of shoes?

Who really cares about your oversized 5000 square feet house?

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How about living each day like if it was the last one?

What about looking for new and exciting experiences?

Oh, I hear you say…am I being too selfish and hedonistic?

Fair enough!

How about giving your time to help someone in need?

What about sacrificing some time or personal pleasures for someone else?

If you are  measuring your quality of life according to other people’s expectations,

I think that you are heading for disapointment…

In contrast…

The people of the remote Himalayan country of Bhutan were recently rated as having the poorest quality of life of all but one other country in the world.

After all, their average annual per capita income is only $500. Ironically, however, when you have the privilege to visit the country, there are no beggars, only beautiful, snow-capped peaks, virgin forests, and clean air.

The crime rate is extremely low, no one is in a hurry, and there is a strong sense of community. You might almost think that instead of depending on their belongings to entertain them, they’ve learned to enhance their lives by building relationships with each other.

External link for Bhutan…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhutan

Be careful to avoid the trap of, “the more you buy, the more you need.” Because oftentimes then the more we think we need, the more unhappy we are with what we have. So, before buying those new golf clubs, stop and think. Will that $2000 bring you more happiness through a bag of irons, compared to a few days off with your family, or as a donation to someone who might need it, or a person who is trying to make a difference?

It’s your choice. It’s how you measure it!