I often will be scrolling through social media, and almost every time I go on facebook, I see at least three memes with a smilier topic. The relation of having lots of money and therefore having a life full of happiness. I think about this a lot and often. Would life really be better if I had endless amounts of money? Would my life be that much better? The answer I usually arrive at is plain and simple. No, I really don’t think it would. I tell myself, money would be nice, but money can’t buy things like genuine love, genuine friends and family.
A prime example of how money can’t buy happiness is located in I am Not Sidney Poitier, Not Sidney has what seems like an endless amount of money for himself. But finds himself just going through life, not really finding inner happiness. Throughout the book, he uses his money to self improve himself, like buying himself a spot in college, which then leads to meeting his short time college girlfriend. He could not fully be involved in the relationship because he decided to hide his massive amounts of money from her.
I believe that because Not Sidney was so humble with his money, he never really opened up to anyone besides his father like figure-Ted Turner, who was the only person who he had a good relationship with. Ted didn’t necessarily bring him happiness but offered to be the person Not Sidney could talk to without having to hide part of his identity.
I would not say Not Sidney was unhappy, but I think because he hid his amounts of money from everyone, that really brought a lot of unhappiness into his life.
I also think the novel is just one of the many examples that money cannot buy happiness & happiness comes from within an individual.