How To Be Rich In A Christmas Carol

The pleasure of a brand new gift can feel thrilling, but that excitement fades away after six to eight weeks. New possessions, money, and power that one has cannot bring them happiness the way experiences can. Greed is America’s disease and halts the road of relationships, comfort, and happiness. It is like a speed bump in the road, precluding the process of coming closer with friends and family and connecting with others. This thirst for money and power will never be as fulfilling and worthy as an experience. Being rich in non-monetary terms such as love, passion, and family will bring happiness. As Dickens shows in A Christmas Carol, although possessions seem like they would bring joy, a misconception that even civilians in this century

have, a sense of relatedness and closeness to family, making others happy, and giving oneself satisfaction from doing good and memorable is what gives experiences the higher remembrance and excitement.

Even today, in the 21st century, many believe that what is valuable and prized is more worthy than experiences and memorable moments. Coming closer to loved ones will trump the objective value of gifts and give a feeling of happiness all around. Being able to share these good times and appreciating them is more valuable than a present or money ever could be. In a study from the San Francisco State University, researchers looked to see what different impacts experiences and possessions have on others. “The most striking difference was in how participants said others around them reacted to either the purchased object or experience. Experiences led to more happiness in others than purchases did. A sense of relatedness to others – getting closer to friends and family – may be one of the reasons why experiences generate more happiness.” Also, as Fred, Scrooge's nephew from A Christmas Carol said when he was talking about his uncle’s riches, he said, “His wealth is of no use to him. He don’t do any good with it. He don’t make himself comfortable with it. He hasn’t the satisfaction of thinking – ha, ha, ha! – that he is ever going to benefit Us with it.” This is significant because although Scrooge is family to Fred, he has been overcome with greed and his love for money and has become such a frugal and miserly man that even his own nephew thinks poorly of him. Scrooge has become so collected in his money and full of himself that he does not even care to think about his family. He does not do anything charitable with the money, which causes others around him to look down upon him. Later on in the book though, when Scrooge changes and is kinder to others, his family enjoys spending time with him. Furthermore, this also relates to the present time because as the study showed, experiences and time with others makes not only one happier, but also those surrounding oneself.

Making others happy and being generous with what one has is the key to success in life. It may not seem like one is making a big difference, but even the smallest acts of kindness can brighten someone’s day. In Stave 2 of A Christmas Carol, the Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge how Fezziwig, Scrooge’s old employer, was so kind to his employees. To this act of kindness Scrooge states,”The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.” When Scrooge sees how generous his employer was and what a positive impact he made on others by being generous and giving, it leads Scrooge to change his ways and become a nicer person who has a beneficial impact on others. As Morrie said in the article,“Tuesdays With Morrie: The Eighth Tuesday We Talk About Money”, “Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” Moreover, caring for others and spreading kindness not only to oneself but also others, whether it be by donating to charity or just plainly going around and doing a good deed for others, is the key to happiness. No matter what it may be, even the smallest movement of giving can make a large difference in someone’s life. Just by putting a smile on someone’s face, a positive impact on the world has been made. Devoting yourself to something and being a better person will help bring accomplishment and joy to life and make a long lasting impact on those around you. This act of kindness and generosity to others will have an everlasting positive impact on not only the receiver, but also the giver.

Giving oneself satisfaction from doing something good and going through a memorable experience, following their dreams is far more valuable than putting trust in money to fulfill the want for riches and materialistic needs.

Fred, Scrooge’s nephew from A Christmas Carol states,“There are many things from which I have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say…” Fred is explaining to Scrooge that although Christmas time may not bring wealth and power, it brings even more value such as family. He is trying to show Scrooge that money is not what will bring oneself satisfaction, but that doing things for which one may not get credit and acknowledgement from may still be worthy. These will bring one happiness and a memorable experience instead. “Do the kinds of things that come from the heart. When you do, you won’t be dissatisfied, you won’t be envious, you won’t be longing for somebody else’s things. On the contrary, you will be overwhelmed with what comes back.” This quote from the article “Tuesdays with Morrie: The Eighth Tuesday We Talk About Money”is significant because it once again displays that doing things that come from inside one will make one feel proud of what one has done. This self satisfaction will help boost confidence and gives oneself pride. Longing for someone else’s belongings and being dissatisfied is not what this act will result in. On the contrary, one will be overcome with joy and generosity, overwhelmed with the happiness the deed returns to back to oneself. This also relates to what Fred said as to that although Christmas may not bring monetary value, but on the other hand brings value in others ways such as happiness with family and giving oneself satisfaction from doing nice things. These two explanations show that these experiences will bring self satisfaction to oneself and will be more worthy and memorable than any possession ever will

be.

Some may say that material possessions have a much greater impact than experiences. Material goods, money, and power will bring happiness. If one is down, the thought of owning these possessions will help make up for the sadness inside and bring love and joy to one's heart. This false idea that many may have can lead to distance between families and friends and can hurt one inside. In reality, experiences will bring a lot more happiness. As stated in “Tuesdays with Morrie: The Eighth Tuesday We Talk About Money”, “These people were so hungry for love that they were accepting substitutes. They were embracing material things and expecting a sort of hug back. But it never works. You can't substitute material things for love or for gentleness or for tenderness or for a sense of comradeship.” It is evident that as this quote states, the misconception that these material goods will bring oneself happiness is all just a blind path man has taken that has ended up being the wrong turn. Morrie states that money and power are not a substitute for kindness and compassion to one’s heart. Neither money, nor power will bring oneself the feeling of sympathy and humanity one is looking for in life, no matter how much one has. Friends, family, generosity, and love will be the things that will show others how wealthy one is because although it may not seem so, these seeming small attributes will be what brings wealth and contentment to oneself.

Experiences bring more happiness to oneself and others around them. They help build the bridge to the road of success, accomplishment, relationships, and family. Wanting money will be the roadblock that stops one from being able to succeed in the categories of life such as love and passion. Giving and doing deeds for others will be the crossing guard that finally lets you across the street. Overall, being able to come closer with family and friends, putting a smile on someone else’s face, and making oneself happy and accomplished is what gives experiences the higher rank when it is facing greed and possessions.