BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WE all came naked into this world but will leave clothed. No one was ever born rich, but some of us were born into wealth. Today, many of us are seeking to become wealthy by any means possible, even if it means hurting others.
In the Caribbean, there are those individuals whose minds are infested with the ‘get-rich-syndrome’ and they have turned to drug trafficking and other illicit activities. Some businessmen and businesswomen as well as politicians are not exempted from the ‘get-rich-syndrome’.
In the business world we have seen where some entrepreneurs have had the monopoly on certain commodities and had exploited consumers, even though the cost of production might have been 30% or 40% of the selling price.
As for politicians, there are many who seek to get into Office with the sole intention of filling their pockets, and some of them do so hurriedly. This breed of politicians are forward-thinking parasites who suck the blood of a nation’s financial resources because they intend to live a life of royalty whenever they demit Office, regardless if it is one or more terms.
We all know that money provides us the basic needs in life - food, clothes, shelter and education – and also some of our wants, such as transportation, jewellery, vacation, etc. But have we ever given thoughts to what happens when we die?
A perfect example is that of the late Steve Jobs, one of the world’s wealthiest men during his tenure on Mother Earth.
Research has shown that Jobs was an American businessman, inventor and industrial designer. He was also the co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Apple Inc; CEO and majority shareholder of Pixar; and founder, Chairman and CEO of NeXT.
It is also said that he and fellow Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak were widely recognised as the pioneers of the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s.
Jobs died on October 5, 2011 due to complications from a relapse of his previously treated islet-cell neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer, which resulted in respiratory arrest.
According to Colin Dodds, at the time of his death, Jobs, net worth was estimated at $10.2B and his estate was estimated to be worth roughly $19B in 2015.
The following is said to be a profound deathbed essay written by Steve Jobs about life, death and the pursuance of wealth. Many have claimed that it was not written by him and that the only words he said on his deathbed were: “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.”
However, be it true or not, this writer has decided to publish the essay to emphasise the fact that “Lust for financial wealth is not the best thing in life.”
The essay reads:
“I reached the pinnacle of success in the business world. In others’ eyes, my life is an epitome of success.
However, aside from work, I have little joy. In the end, wealth is only a fact of life that I am accustomed to.
At this moment, lying on the sick bed and recalling my whole life, I realize that all the recognition and wealth that I took so much pride in, have paled and become meaningless in the face of impending death.
In the darkness, I look at the green lights from the life supporting machines and hear the humming mechanical sounds, I can feel the breath of god of death drawing closer…
Now I know, when we have accumulated sufficient wealth to last our lifetime, we should pursue other matters that are unrelated to wealth…
Should be something that is more important: Perhaps relationships, perhaps art, perhaps a dream from younger days.
Non-stop pursuing of wealth will only turn a person into a twisted being, just like me.
God gave us the senses to let us feel the love in everyone’s heart, not the illusions brought about by wealth.
The wealth I have won in my life I cannot bring with me. What I can bring is only the memories precipitated by love.
That’s the true riches which will follow you, accompany you, giving you strength and light to go on.
Love can travel a thousand miles. Life has no limit. Go where you want to go. Reach the height you want to reach. It is all in your heart and in your hands.
What is the most expensive bed in the world?
Sick bed…
You can employ someone to drive the car for you, make money for you but you cannot have someone to bear the sickness for you.
Material things lost can be found. But there is one thing that can never be found when it is lost – Life.
When a person goes into the operating room, he will realize that there is one book that he has yet to finish reading – Book of Healthy Life.
Whichever stage in life we are at right now, with time, we will face the day when the curtain comes down.
Treasure Love for your family, love for your spouse, love for your friends.
Treat yourself well. Cherish others.”
What are your views?
