Hoooooo sheesh, that's a loaded question, Special-K! Don't get me started... But for starters , I absolutely LOATHE the expression, "peak earning years", because, allegedly, that's where I'm "supposed" to be right now. Far from it. I can't even deal with magazines and articles or even being around people that are a constant reminder of my being soooo out of that reality. Ok, granted, magazines and such aren't reality, but even being with people who think they "don't make that much", makes me laugh. You know, cynically. A big part of it is where I started... smart, super good grades, "destined for great things", you know? I didn't lose the smart part and tend to gravitate towards people I can have an intelligent conversation with, who in fact in many instances *have* done all that. I just lost my footing and never got it back. It's kind of painful really, even though I thoroughly believe we have a majorly f***** up mentality as a society. And I just want to shake the bejeebers out of people who equate smarts with money or what one does for a living. It's *far* from an absolute and brings out the most heinously rude behavior in people. I remember one time when I had a cleaning business and a client's friend made some socially dismissive comment to me. The client was mortified, and after she left, apologized profusely (this client had money, a glamorous sort of job and would ask my advice all the time...) I told her, "No worries. What she said says more about her than it ever could about me." End of story and something to remember. But... say on something like FB (which bores the pants off me), I see people that I hung out with in HS. And even though part of me is curious to say hi, the part that wins out is the one that has a complex over what they've done vs. what I've done. And it's so so so stupid, I know. But the big fear is that someone will unwittingly blurt out the question I dread. "What happened?!"

Money is definitely NOT the most important thing. Not even close.

Hehe, hear you on the doing work faster than the coworkers thing. Faster, smarter, better. Not to brag, it's just true. But then I hit the points where I just want to crawl under a table and hide. Argh! When it's down but not in a big way, I use work to outrun my own mind... keep the demons at bay. It works. Usually. For awhile.

Ok, but back to society... I keep it simple (granted, monetarily, there is no choice, but philosophically it's my bent anyway) and try not to get caught up in it all. Even in attitude, let alone possessions. It helps.