I read an article last week that challenged the function of money in our lives. It claimed that meaning is the leader, and money is the follower. The idea was introduced that if we looked at meaning through a monetary lens, the value of the most important parts of our lives could more easily be realized. I, of course, could not help but experiment through this perspective over the last few weeks.
The overarching theme of my blog posts and goal for my time abroad has been to live in the moment. To do this, I’ve been practicing ways of staying present in my everyday life – to enjoy the beautiful people and places around me and accept my reality. As I took on a financial outlook of simply existing, it was not only difficult to put a price on the abstract moments occurring every day, but it was also eye opening to appreciate parts of my life that would normally occur without the slightest bit of attention.
I feel very lucky. I have a family and support system that loves me, and I am healthy. I have endless opportunities that will guide my future, and I am getting an incredible education. In Switzerland, I’ve found that it is very easy to rant about how expensive it is to live here, but after valuing the best parts of my life recently, there is nothing to complain about. The gains of this experience outweigh the losses entirely.
It was quite amusing trying to monetize specific situations in my every day life. Would I pay for sunshine, laughter or faith? How much would it cost for knowledge or even the feeling of compassion on one of my worst days? So many of us are searching for love, gratification and validation – what if we could just buy it online? I couldn’t help but laugh when thinking about the value of staying present in every moment, or in other words, the present value of my life. Through my finance major, I’ve spent hours finding the net present value of some project for some company in some case study. It was intriguing for me to twist this idea into my own reality.
Since December, I’ve been practicing meditation. This is something I could have never imagined I’d be able to learn as an anxious and compulsive thinker, but as I set aside time every day to practice, it became one of the most important parts of my life. Last week, I finished meditating and immediately felt lighter, like I always do. My mind was clear, and I felt this calm energy within me that I wished I could maintain forever. Of course, I had to ask – what is the price of a still mind? Meditation is my escape, and it’s my anchor. I found it difficult to pick a precise value, but I inevitably felt more grateful for the experience.
With this appreciation on my mind, I spent the last two weekends venturing to Budapest and Berlin. Both cities were absolutely breathtaking and emanated a vibrant, everlasting energy from the strength of their people and history. As I visited the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and the Berlin Wall, I struggled to wrap my mind around the devastating reality of WWII. In Budapest, we visited the Shoes on the Danube tribute to the 20,000 Jews that were shot along the banks of the river. I felt waves of grief, empathy and heartache. I left both countries speechless and with an even greater gratitude to be alive and free.
Over the last few weeks, it occurred to me that there is a key part of the valuation equation – the people that we share our lives with. Last Thursday, my incredible mother and cousin met me in Germany for their break. As I excitedly attacked the two of them with hugs in their hotel room, I noticed the door slowly opening out of the corner of my eye. Before I could process what was happening, my best friend and her mom were standing in front of me. I was absolutely shocked and overcome with happiness. No real sentences, just a lot of what’s and how’s followed by tears. Moments like that, when your person flies across the world to surprise you, are undoubtedly priceless. If I had to monetize every one of my friendships and pay for a lifelong subscription, I’d be 100% broke.
The more I thought about how valuable my life is, the more I contemplated the lives of those who doubt the meaning of existence. I’ve been fascinated by existentialism since high school because it has always felt, often in relationships, as though I’m wired to fight for someone’s life and allow them to see their own purpose. Over the years, I’ve realized it is strictly within the power of the individual to recognize his or her own self worth and to acknowledge what life has to offer. I thought back to this lesson as I looked at life through a monetary lens – it is really up to us to appreciate the value of our surrounding world.
While it seems ridiculous to price the intangible moments and feelings in our lives, I’d recommend a shift in perspective to realize what truly matters. It’s easy to become consumed with potential salaries and how many material things that money can buy us. As I tried to price the more important aspects of my life, I found meaning dominating and taking control over whatever value I could come up with. Overall, I feel very grateful that we don’t have to pay for each and every magical moment that life has to offer. Because those glimpses of pure joy are truly invaluable, they are what makes life so worth living.
Fondue Me 