H Kapp-Klote is a writer I really enjoy who has a recurring feature where they ask people about their relationship with money, how they make it, etc.

The most eye-opening entry for me is with Katie In, someone who—like many of us—struggles with toxic Protestant Work-Ethic™ programming, but who has learned to guide money decisions through the lens of “not being depressed all the time.”

I read that and thought, “that’s brilliant.” Then I got sad that in our work culture, such a value is counter-intuitive.

Keep working hard, if you must. But don’t forget to not be depressed all the time.