You nailed it! I love how you articulated this point. I will have to reread it later. You highlight so well what has bothered me about American society for many years. Part of the reason I decided to not settle there after living there for a year.

This incessant focus on money and accumulation of material wealth as the measure of success was just off putting to me. And I am not some kind of hippie. I quite like stuff.

But this American propensity to measure intelligence and success by the size of your bank account I think is a significant factor in how Trump got elected. How often have I not heard the expression “if you are so smart, how come you are not rich?” in America?

By that metric I guess Albert Einstein wasn’t smart.

If only more people could express what you express. This worship of money is an unhealthy obsession leading society down the drain.

As far as I am concerned, a good middle class life with a job you enjoy, a happy family and friends is success.

I would not mind making a big dent in this world for the better, but it is not so important to me to do that, that I will sacrifice everything else to achieve it.

The world would never have worked if everybody was trying to be the next Steve Jobs at the same time. Somebody has to pick up the garbage. Somebody has to build your house and farm the fields. The world works because of a lot of these “unsuccessful” people. We should be grateful they do their job. Even more grateful that many doing all these crucial jobs like doing them.