I was in Central America on vacation recently so excuse me for slacking on my blog. One thing I try do whenever I visit a new country is to spend some time away from the tourist spots in order to see how the locals really live. I’ve visited several poor countries so I see up close how people struggle to earn a living. This always makes me feel extremely blessed to have all the things we take for granted in this country.

It’s not about having to feel guilty for all the nice things we enjoy here. What I’m really talking about is realizing how trivial and pointless it is for us to complain about stuff such as not being able to afford the latest tech gadget or designer clothes. What’s even worse is getting into debt buying things we can live without.

I’ve also noticed the positive attitude expressed by many of the people I’ve met in other countries who would be considered lower middle-class or poorer here in the U.S. They don’t seem to let their financial situation sap the joy from their lives. They may not be able to afford nice cars or big homes but they’re still grateful for what they have and their families remain very tight knit. Of course, you don’t have to leave the U.S. to meet people just like them but it’s easier to forget about them when society keeps telling you that the fastest way to happiness is to get rich. Don’t get me wrong. It’s great to achieve financial security. But don’t think that being successful automatically translates to being rich. There are rich people who are miserable failures in every other way and there are poor people who are wealthy in every other way except financially. You’ve probably already met some of them. I’d like to hear about it if you have.