What We 'Need' and What We 'Want'

Title sounds good.. Isn't it ? Just kidding ;) 

We are humans. Social animals. We need people around us and we are not alone in this world. All of us are interdependent. Alright. So we need people in our lives. The next important thing - 

Among money, happiness, peace, love which is important. I agree no one of these is the only important thing. All have their proportion of importance in each of our lives. But, lately, all I hear is about money. I have been pushed into a dilemma. Let's see if I end up confusing you bringing you into a dilemma or if, after reading this, you conclude which you feel is important in a person's life (if you do, please let me know, I may need it very badly).

If someone asks me to name three things I want the most in life, I'd say Happiness, Peace and Love. But I was contradicted that without money you can't get these in your life. So my question is, money, bank balance and societal status the only things that help you achieve these three? Can't people without money or those with a moderate income be happy? Why does the society brand us based on the money we have? I am not an exception though. I like to have a decent, clean, sophisticated life (mind you, not an extremely lavish one but not a very small one either). But, my ultimate goal through all this should be happiness and people to love end of the day. 

Most of them I see today, earn money and lead a more than just luxurious life not because they need it. But, because the society sees it. They feel their respect depends on the size of their house, cost of their car and the food they feed their dog! But truly speaking is that what they want, sorry 'need'? I am sure everyone of us want those three things I mentioned earlier but they see money and what society thinks of them the ultimate source of those which makes me sad. 

We run towards money because society will treat us better when we are rich and bad if we aren't. Then why do we have to surround us with such people. What we really have to work on, I feel, is to earn for our sake. If what we earn and what we do gives us happiness, love and peace then be happy with that. Earn more if you can and if you have opportunities grab it and go up your economic ladder. But why work hard and run towards it simply because of what the society thinks of us? Who is this society? Why should what they say matter so much to us? I am not saying we shouldn't work to earn well. I am not saying we shouldn't work hard for a lavish life. If that is what YOU really NEED then go ahead and work for it. It is good. Appreciable. You will be happy eventually. But if you are going to do all this because this is how you get a respectable status in this so-called society then you are wrong and you are probably going to destroy your life working. You will eventually lose all the small things that can bring happiness for the big things that may or may not give you that. 

The respect you get should be what you are personally and how pure the way you think is. It shouldn't be given based on your financial status. The former is permanent because what you are by birth is never going to change. The respect from the latter is temporary. A person who is rich now may not be tomorrow. Life is unpredictable. All that goes with you when you die is your name, your character and the meaningful life you led not the materialistic things you earned for the sake of the society. 

Now, you tell me what you conclude.. ! I'd love to hear your views too. 

Sad Life (From images.google.com)