What Happened to The Simple Life
Posted: Wednesday, August 18, 2010
by Grace O'Malley
When did life and living become so complicated? How did we end up putting so much pressure on ourselves to have more, that we forgot what it is to see life as it should be?
As children most of us live in insular little pockets. The world is a big place we can only see through television and movies. We know what our neighborhood is like. We see how our friends live. Through the magic that is media we become inundated with commercials of this toy and that toy being THE thing to have. The mantra of gimme, gimme, gimme resonates throughout the house.
Growing into puberty we become more social creatures. The peer pressure of not being "different" assails us at every turn. Therefore we just HAVE to have the latest (fill in the blank) because so-and-so does and you don't want me to be "different" do you? The mantra of I want, I want, I want becomes our motto.
Adulthood comes right around the corner. What shall we do with our lives? Everyone says that in order to be a success you have to get the right job, buy the right house, drive the right car and date the right people. Instead of finding our own joy in life, or pursuing dreams for the simple fact that they are "our" dreams, we have turned into a society in which we feel that in order to be successful, we have to fit in with our neighbors. We are no longer concerned with our own little pleasures as individuals, but with what makes those around us happy. The mantra of gotta have, gotta have, gotta have is now our battle cry!
You put yourself into debt by attending the right college. Then work your butt off the next 10 years so you can buy that house, drive that car, marry that person. Along the way you find that wasn't enough. You also just HAD to have that boat, that Jet Ski and that RV for those 2 weeks every summer your family takes a break. And don't forget that awesome 54" Flat screen TV calling your name. It would look good on that family room wall. The mantra of more!, more!, more! assails even our subconscious mind.
Of course since you now have so much stuff in your 1800 square foot home and the kids are growing, it is time to sell this place and buy a bigger one. More hours at work: less time with family. During your down time you play a sport, join a club, or go out with friends partying the night away. Back at home the kids are watching TV and movies and being inundated with all those commercials.
The cycle begins again.
When does it stop? When do we say we have it all and we are content? To be happy, are these "things" truly required? Must our lives be filled with an abundance of gadgets in order to finally be at peace with our existence?
Gone are the days in which we pursued our dreams, no matter how tiny they might be. Rather than marrying the love of our lives, we instead marry for the sake of convenience. "So-and-so can bring this to the table, which is an area I'm lacking in, so it's a good fit." We no longer view our significant others as being able to compliment who we are as individuals, or as being able to bring out the very best in us. Having children is no longer a joy, but a tax write-off. Nor are we even raising our own children any longer because we are far too busy working and acquiring more money to be spent on the gadgets which we have to own in order to be happy with our lot in life.
What happened to the simple pleasures in life? Spending time together as a family? Living a life where all that is needed is a roof over our heads, food in our bellies, a comfortable bed to sleep on, the laughter of our children as we chase them through the house, and the quiet joy of curling up together and reveling in those moments that bring a smile to our faces? The little things are no longer important, as the bigger and better "things" in life have taken over. Gone are the days when taking a walk in the park, or watching the children laugh and play as their imaginations run wild, or simply taking the time to "smell the roses" with our loved ones are considered fun, or times of relaxation. Instead, we have let our material possessions rule us.
Happiness can be found in the little things. A fruitful life doesn't have to be shown by how much we can accrue. Contentment isn't bought at the big box chain store. All of it can be found in your heart. You just have to look.
It really is that simple.
As children most of us live in insular little pockets. The world is a big place we can only see through television and movies. We know what our neighborhood is like. We see how our friends live. Through the magic that is media we become inundated with commercials of this toy and that toy being THE thing to have. The mantra of gimme, gimme, gimme resonates throughout the house.
Adulthood comes right around the corner. What shall we do with our lives? Everyone says that in order to be a success you have to get the right job, buy the right house, drive the right car and date the right people. Instead of finding our own joy in life, or pursuing dreams for the simple fact that they are "our" dreams, we have turned into a society in which we feel that in order to be successful, we have to fit in with our neighbors. We are no longer concerned with our own little pleasures as individuals, but with what makes those around us happy. The mantra of gotta have, gotta have, gotta have is now our battle cry!
You put yourself into debt by attending the right college. Then work your butt off the next 10 years so you can buy that house, drive that car, marry that person. Along the way you find that wasn't enough. You also just HAD to have that boat, that Jet Ski and that RV for those 2 weeks every summer your family takes a break. And don't forget that awesome 54" Flat screen TV calling your name. It would look good on that family room wall. The mantra of more!, more!, more! assails even our subconscious mind.
Of course since you now have so much stuff in your 1800 square foot home and the kids are growing, it is time to sell this place and buy a bigger one. More hours at work: less time with family. During your down time you play a sport, join a club, or go out with friends partying the night away. Back at home the kids are watching TV and movies and being inundated with all those commercials.
The cycle begins again.
When does it stop? When do we say we have it all and we are content? To be happy, are these "things" truly required? Must our lives be filled with an abundance of gadgets in order to finally be at peace with our existence?
Gone are the days in which we pursued our dreams, no matter how tiny they might be. Rather than marrying the love of our lives, we instead marry for the sake of convenience. "So-and-so can bring this to the table, which is an area I'm lacking in, so it's a good fit." We no longer view our significant others as being able to compliment who we are as individuals, or as being able to bring out the very best in us. Having children is no longer a joy, but a tax write-off. Nor are we even raising our own children any longer because we are far too busy working and acquiring more money to be spent on the gadgets which we have to own in order to be happy with our lot in life.
What happened to the simple pleasures in life? Spending time together as a family? Living a life where all that is needed is a roof over our heads, food in our bellies, a comfortable bed to sleep on, the laughter of our children as we chase them through the house, and the quiet joy of curling up together and reveling in those moments that bring a smile to our faces? The little things are no longer important, as the bigger and better "things" in life have taken over. Gone are the days when taking a walk in the park, or watching the children laugh and play as their imaginations run wild, or simply taking the time to "smell the roses" with our loved ones are considered fun, or times of relaxation. Instead, we have let our material possessions rule us.
Happiness can be found in the little things. A fruitful life doesn't have to be shown by how much we can accrue. Contentment isn't bought at the big box chain store. All of it can be found in your heart. You just have to look.
It really is that simple.
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