Lifesnotfair,
That reminds me of the scene in Bridget Jones' Diary when she goes to a dinner party that has all married couples. One of these smug married couples asks her: "why are their so many single 30 year old women"? and she says something along the lines that underneath her clothes she has scales... Then as they persist with their rude questions, she asks what the rate for divorce is. -1 in 3 or something.
Anyhow, you remember how the story ends -she ends up with Mr Darcy.
...well, the point is that you never know where you'll end-up and noone knows what is just around the corner. And, although that may sound like annoying advice ...I also think that it is the way to think when you are in the midst of people who are supposedly well-to-do, who have all the status symbols ...the house, the spouse, the career, a busy social life...
to think in terms of "spiritual" and not material wealth. THis means seeing what can't be seen to the naked eye. Yet, the person with the house, the spouse, the career, and the busy social life could lose it all in a moment.
And if not that, they may never get to know who they are or have any real sense of what is valuable to them. ...Thinking in this way (without judging people who have material status as of inferior moral standard) helps me let go of feeling bad when I'm around people doing so much more than me.
And, I think to my self of how I am lucky to not have to deal with gossips, or have a family social network that is like one of those mini villages where everyone talks about everyone and passes judgement.
One day I hope to completely give-up my attachment to material success, like the need to be accepted by others; and to just believe in my self regardless of what I have or don't have.
I am lucky, though, that love relationships are not of great concern for me. I actually believe I could be happy without them. ...it's other things that I am not so secure about.
