Rosy Glow -Malcolm Forbes

 

By

Bob LaTorre

 This is another of Cousin Bob’s columns from 20 years ago.

While alive….he lived.  That is the way the tombstone of Mr. Malcolm Forbes reads. This colorful multi-millionaire lived the kind of life which most of us could envy. He made the headlines and found a spot in our hearts. From his two million dollar birthday party to his motorcycle trips with Elizabeth Taylor in the buddy seat he loved life, he knew how to enjoy it and he spent his money his way.

I wonder how many people believe that Malcolm Forbes would have enjoyed life just has much if he had been a hard working guy with a net worth of just fifty thousand dollars when he died… I happen to be one of those people. I also believe that there are millions of Malcolm Forbes’ all around us, who never get the recognition, appreciation or understanding which he got.

As a Matter of fact, men and women who share the “Joy of Life” which Forbes enjoyed and even Malcolm himself, are often the subject of ridicule. In the case of a wealthy industrialist the criticism takes the form of condemning him for not being concerned about his fellow men.

At the time of his birthday party many members of the press thought he should have given the money to help the homeless.

The same thing often happens when people (less wealthy people) express their happiness with life. Family, friends and others confront them with all the ills of the world and question them about their joy of living in a world where so many are less fortunate.

No! Happiness is not an accepted norm in our society. It seems sad somehow that too many people are envious of happy people. And there are a lot of happy people in the world. What’s more most of them are not rich.

Sometimes in conversation I can sense that people hold back that happiness for fear of attracting the scorn of others. I can remember saying to someone just back from even a modest vacation  “you must have had a great time? I bet you are pleased with your trip.” Quite often the reaction is defensive, they will hedge their answer and look for something about the trip which was not pleasant only because they are unwilling to admit they were and are happy out of their minds.

When I look for the  cause of the resentment against joy there seems to be a connection between this attitude and the general resentment against any sort of achievement in the world. I suppose the word jealousy is the one which fits best. But at the same time I am amazed that such feeling should or could exist in today’s world where each of us has so much opportunity to achieve ourselves.

Looking closer at the question it is a bit easier to understand the commandment, now more than four thousand years old which says. Thou shall not COVET they neighbors goods. I guess we humans have changed very little in all that time. It is still a good commandment. What is more we should add to it don’t be afraid to live life to the fullest out of fear that someone will sin against us with their coveting.

I will go one step further we can all gain when we learn to share the joy of others. I can remember how elated I felt in reading about the exploits of Mr. Forbes. He lived high adventure and what is more he did not look the part he looked like just one of the guys. He could have easily been cast as a bookkeeper or an accountant, but he was an adventurer who enjoyed what his money was able to buy.

He should be an example to all young people not as much for his financial success but for his success in living. We should study his life, it will tell us a lot about making money and about how to live. We need to do this not just with Malcolm Forbes but with all who seem to have his outlook. Sometimes I see a couple at a road side picnic table, with a modest car parked nearby. They always seem so happy. Or take the case of the lone fisherman. It is almost impossible to drive over a bridge which crosses a body of water, without seeing one lone person with fishing pole in hand enjoying the day. Don’t you wonder who this person is that seems to have not a care in the world?

These are a lot of men and women with the “Forbes” mentality out there; we should stop envying them and start emulating them. There is no question about what kind of world it would be if all of us could have the same inscription on our tombstone. …While Alive…He lived. It would be a world just filled with…rosy glows.