Wanting the World but Losing Yourself
Everywhere you look, there are signs, and labels, Bigger, or New and Improved. Kind of makes me wonder what was wrong with it in the first place.
North America has become a selfish nation, we are narcissistic, hard to please, and never satisfied with what we have!
We are bombarded daily, thanks to advertisers, spending billions to sell their product, or the idea of their product to us, their greedy consumers.
I realize things have changed in the past 40 years, but I don't think it's as much things that have changed as much as it is us. I can remember as a child, my parents would buy a new car about every 8 years. That was the norm in our neighbourhood. Our furniture was the same furniture my parents had when they bought their first house, people made do with what they had. I don't recall any of my friends or relatives having more than 1 car, mostly I think because our mom's worked at home.
Kids went to school with 1 pair of new shoes in September and the only way they scored a new pair was if they outgrew their other pair. Our clothes were the same, a few new outfits before school began, and some at Christmas. We had to change into play clothes after school so we didn't tear or stain our school clothes. Everyone we knew did this!
Now, kids go to school with designer clothes, shoes and purses, along with the newest smartphone. It's sad, because teens will look down on fellow students if they aren't dressed in what they consider appropriate fashion.
Unfortunately, todays teenagers have been raised to spend money, and shop for something new every week. They are being slammed with media ads in magazines, television, emails, even their Facebook has advertising!
They have learned what they have been taught. It has been my generation of parents who have exploited our children with always wanting more and this feeling of discontent if they don't get it! We thought we were doing such a great favour to our children by giving them the things we never had. Why did we do that? We survived and we respected what we had and took care of it because if we didn't, we knew we wouldn't get a new one. We, as young adults bought into society's More is Better propoganda! We allowed ourselves to be seduced by things, we did everything our parents taught us not to do.
We have raised our children to be a throw away generation. Our values have changed from cherishing what we have to just throw it away and buy new! Our landfills are increasing, and so are our wants.
We need to get back to the basics again and be happy with what we have. Remember that expression our parents used to say when we were children? The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I do, my mom used to say it to one of us at least once a week. She would say "We want what we can't have because we don't know what it took to get it, or keep it. Be happy with what you do have, learn to be content". I hated when she said that, but I understand it now.
We see someone with something new, and that selfish little kid in us comes out, telling us we want it too! One has only to look at all of the car dealerships electronics, clothing stores to see proof we want it all. We are overdrawn, and living on credit. Banks are willing to give 16 year olds a credit card! We are in debt, financially and emotionally.
I saw a plaque the other day. The words that were on it made me think. Happiness isn't having what you want, happiness is wanting what you have. Very wise words to live by, very wise indeed.
North America has become a selfish nation, we are narcissistic, hard to please, and never satisfied with what we have!
We are bombarded daily, thanks to advertisers, spending billions to sell their product, or the idea of their product to us, their greedy consumers.
I realize things have changed in the past 40 years, but I don't think it's as much things that have changed as much as it is us. I can remember as a child, my parents would buy a new car about every 8 years. That was the norm in our neighbourhood. Our furniture was the same furniture my parents had when they bought their first house, people made do with what they had. I don't recall any of my friends or relatives having more than 1 car, mostly I think because our mom's worked at home.
Kids went to school with 1 pair of new shoes in September and the only way they scored a new pair was if they outgrew their other pair. Our clothes were the same, a few new outfits before school began, and some at Christmas. We had to change into play clothes after school so we didn't tear or stain our school clothes. Everyone we knew did this!
Now, kids go to school with designer clothes, shoes and purses, along with the newest smartphone. It's sad, because teens will look down on fellow students if they aren't dressed in what they consider appropriate fashion.
Unfortunately, todays teenagers have been raised to spend money, and shop for something new every week. They are being slammed with media ads in magazines, television, emails, even their Facebook has advertising!
They have learned what they have been taught. It has been my generation of parents who have exploited our children with always wanting more and this feeling of discontent if they don't get it! We thought we were doing such a great favour to our children by giving them the things we never had. Why did we do that? We survived and we respected what we had and took care of it because if we didn't, we knew we wouldn't get a new one. We, as young adults bought into society's More is Better propoganda! We allowed ourselves to be seduced by things, we did everything our parents taught us not to do.
We have raised our children to be a throw away generation. Our values have changed from cherishing what we have to just throw it away and buy new! Our landfills are increasing, and so are our wants.
We need to get back to the basics again and be happy with what we have. Remember that expression our parents used to say when we were children? The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I do, my mom used to say it to one of us at least once a week. She would say "We want what we can't have because we don't know what it took to get it, or keep it. Be happy with what you do have, learn to be content". I hated when she said that, but I understand it now.
We see someone with something new, and that selfish little kid in us comes out, telling us we want it too! One has only to look at all of the car dealerships electronics, clothing stores to see proof we want it all. We are overdrawn, and living on credit. Banks are willing to give 16 year olds a credit card! We are in debt, financially and emotionally.
I saw a plaque the other day. The words that were on it made me think. Happiness isn't having what you want, happiness is wanting what you have. Very wise words to live by, very wise indeed.
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