The very idea of success is false. Wealth, Fame, Status ... none of these will necessarily bring you self-respect, dignity, equanimity, good health, true worth or any other positive factor.

The materialist ethos of most modern societies is an atrocious conditioned ethos implanted and encouraged by a system controlled by a few. That few benefit from encouraging, (usually insidiously), aspirations that the majority have no hope of attaining.

Research shows us that each year the wealthy increase their share of the 'cake' and the majority are left with an even smaller share. Here one has the source of so much of the dissatisfaction and problematic issues in society. This results, in turn, in ever increasing numbers of dysfunctional and mentally ill people, empty lives, broken relationships, feelings of inadequacy or 'failure'.

The fact is that neither things nor money will generate self-worth, good character or sense of fulfillment, let alone encourage commitment to others and positive contribution to society and humanity as a whole.

Winston Churchill once said, and I paraphrase: 'What you get gives you a living, what you give gets you a life.'

For me, (incidentally not a particular admirer of Churchill), that is an apposite axiom by which it is useful to live.

You are so right that "Time is the greatest resource" and that how we spend it will determine fulfillment. It is sad and unfortunate that too many cannot see it but it is not they who are to blame but rather a social system, schooling, political ideology and the manipulation by those with power and wealth, who ensure that the system ensures their own desires over those of the majority. Wherever there is great wealth there will be an underlying trail of deception, deceit, uninhibited self promotion and disregard for the feelings, circumstances or health of others. This is as true as the old adage regarding corruption. Just as power breeds corruption and absolute power breeds absolute corruption, so it is with a life based on acquisition, it breeds disregard for others and when taken to the limit, it breeds total disregard for others.

So it is that we have the Trumps and Netanyahus and Putins of this world.

300,000 years of homo sapiens and though we have achieved the most remarkable advances in science and technology, it seems that we have achieved almost nothing in the affective domain and our ability to care and share and ensure that all of us receive the benefits of a beautiful planet and life itself.

Thank you for your article. A great read and a very true conclusion, in my view.

Take care. Stay safe. ☮️