What stuff is really made of and why we feel we need to have it.
Monday, June 16th, 2008 | General
Yes, I am one of those typical Americans that likes things and I am certainly guilty of feeling like I “need” something just because it’s got some sweet fancy bells, whistles and sparklies. So here is what it boils down to: I either want it just to have it, I want it because I still need validation for my sense of taste or I want it because it just looks cute! I have to say extent of originality and heightened level of cuteness are what can get to me. Like everything that is Queen Bee. Oh.. it kills me :).
I do love to shop… I admit it.. I cannot deny it…. looking, touching, feeling and even tasting when the opportunity presents itself gets me sucked in and I want to “buy, buy… buy”. Oh it’s bad, bad, bad…. I know. 
However, during my shopping ventures, not all is lost , as I have had the inclination to come to some realization that begged me to re-think what my actual need for the cute object was. What purpose would this new found fancy “thing” really serve me… really?
So, here we are, Americans, consistently looking for satisfaction in our things and our government feeds that by dispersing “stimulus” checks just so we’ll buy more “stuff” that we think we need but actually don’t. We can justify anything if it warrants it, we work hard. In fact one person I know would always say, “I deserve to buy this.. I got a JOB”. There it is… justification. We work hard and therefore deserve to treat ourselves.
It really is an unfortunate circumstance and why our population is the largest population dependent on anti-depressants because we constantly seek fulfillment, satisfaction… pleasure and we think we find it in ‘things’.
This is a superb example of how screwed up our priorities are and how we could and should all really re-think how we use our hard earned $$$’s.
So, anyway. This has been true all my life, my parents lived like this… always buying, never saving because the philosophy was that the “thing” would make them happy. Well they were happy at the time of purchase, but as soon as the “thing” lost it’s luster.. it’s off to the next thing that must be beholden (purchased).
Anyway, the point of all of this is to help us all re-evaluate “what” is “happiness” and “what” our real “needs” are. Hmmm. So here it is.
Click the link below, watch, listen and reflect.
1 Comment to What stuff is really made of and why we feel we need to have it.
I have been thinking about the same thing. Now that we are not so poor, we do tend to buy more things. Especially for the babe. I do get very tempted to have stuff. But soon it’s not so exciting and on to the next thing. I do realize though that these things will not do anything for me. I guess I just give myself permission to be bad. I remember not so long ago we were shopping at .99 cent stores and purchasing no clothing until the birthday check arrived in the mail. I was happy then too;)
June 17, 2008