When Money Becomes the Drug

Here's an uncomfortable truth: money might be the most socially acceptable addiction in the world.
Think about it. No other craving is so universally praised while simultaneously destroying the very things it promises to provide—time, peace of mind, meaningful relationships.
Lou Mannheim got it right in the original Wall Street: "It's a funny thing about money. It makes you do things you don't want to do."
We sacrifice evenings with our kids for overtime. We take jobs we hate for bigger paychecks. We scroll through luxury brands at midnight, convincing ourselves that the next purchase will finally be the one that makes us feel complete. And like any addiction, the high never lasts. There's always another milestone, another acquisition, another zero to add to the account.
The real danger isn't money itself—it's mistaking accumulation for achievement, and net worth for self-worth.
The antidote? Gratitude. Not the Instagram-caption kind, but the deep, daily practice of recognizing what's already enough. Whether you're struggling or thriving, the question remains the same: are you spending your life earning a living, or actually living?
Stop. Breathe. Smell the roses—before you're too busy buying the entire garden to notice them.