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Congratulations, you've broken free from the control that our artificial and superficial society has spent so much time implementing. Being bombarded by advertisements, t.v. shows, music, movies, magazines, etc where we are told what to buy, how to look, etc it can be hard to break out of the box, or as well stated by another poster, how to jump off of the hamster wheel.
No one is willing to think for themselves anymore so they do what they're instructed to. Why live in a house with enough room to live comfortably when you can go hundreds of thousands in debt for something big and pretty? Why buy a reliable car when you can spend thousands more on something shiny that will make your neighbors jealous? The concept of beauty comes to mind instantly - telling girls that they need to be a certain weight, wear certain makeup and clothes, have a certain hairstyle, etc in order to be considered pretty. My question is...who says that this is the only way to live? People follow this ridiculous lifestyle because it's thrown at them every day and it's all that they know.
The idea that you and others are promoting scares them or makes them uncomfortable, so their first instinct is to attack it. Deem you a pessimist or tell you all of the reasons that you should try to make more money. The truth is that society and its various mediums have convinced everyone that there is no middle ground between being rich or living in poverty. Why does living a minimalist lifestyle have to equal being poor? No one understands the concept of living within your means anymore, so the thought of doing so seems horrendous to people who have yet to learn to think for themselves.
I, unfortunately, realized this too late, after I racked up a couple of credit cards buying worthless junk and a car that is, quite pretty, but quite unnecessary.
It's all a game, really. Your idea makes perfect sense but it doesn't benefit those who have been so consumed by greed that they are willing to step on other people and convince them otherwise.
Congrats, you're the 250,962,337th member of the "I've figured it all out" society!
Yep, the "rest of us" are all hamsters spinning in the wheel - still waiting for the rejectors of "materialism/commercialism" to realize that in this country they actually have the luxury of the choice to be "minimalist" versus a lot of the world's citizens who don't.
Most people haven't figured out anything better to do with their lives except to work, work, work, and work to accumulate stuff that they really don't need. The 'need' is created by marketing techniques and the desire to establish their status in society.
The people have short attention spans, their possessions are not fulfilling, but there are always more and newer gadgets to buy. They remain slaves to the hamster wheel...and they will proudly defend it as the right way to live.
Most people haven't figured out anything better to do with their lives except to work, work, work, and work to accumulate stuff that they really don't need. The 'need' is created by marketing techniques and the desire to establish their status in society.
The people have short attention spans, their possessions are not fulfilling, but there are always more and newer gadgets to buy. They remain slaves to the hamster wheel...and they will proudly defend it as the right way to live.
I'm not allowed to give you reputation by clicking on the rep line, so I compliment you this way.
It was brief and true assessment!
I refuse to go to yard sales, they are too depressing. Sad people trying to get rid of junk that they haven't even paid for yet. Their credit card is maxxed out, and they paid thousands of dollars for the stuff they are selling, and will be lucky to get a couple of hundred for it. The total receipts from the yard sale will pay the interest this month on the credit card balance that was used to buy it.
Yes, yes, I know, nobody put a gun to their heads and forced them to buy it. So, they why did they buy it?
Along the course in life, we find objects / ideas / places we grow to really enjoy. Some are very basic (I like Big Red gum) and some aren't (I want a fancy house in Newport Beach). I can get up right now, walk about half a mile to a gas station and get that gum if I really wanted it. The house...thats going to take time and if I ever get to that point, I bet my stupidass would want something else harder to get!
Along the way, you can get lonely and I think that is where you are at now. Once you get too lonely, you feel everything is trivial. Then you met someone that makes you feel better and will motivate you to try harder. Before you know it, you get this void filled and forget about this question all together.
When you accomplish a great task, you feel a great sense of achivement. Every segment in ones life is filled with tasks and goals. However, after one is done with school...these goals can take as much time as one wants. You want a family? That can happen right out of high school (hell, sometimes still in high school) or that can happen in your 40's. That is a massive gap of time.
You need things to fill your time along the ride. Ideas you need to persue and achieve so you feel like your life was worthwhile. Say you get to die old and you feel that last breath coming, you will probably reflect on your life. Do you want to think, "about f'n time, can't wait to see whats next cause it be good cause this sucked" or "I had a great life and I am ready to see what is next".
A young woman I know spent a year in a poverty stricken country. Before she returned to all the comforts of home she got a discreet tattoo on her hip. It reads "perspectiva". That's "perspective" in Spanish. She told me it was to remind her to keep her perspective in this country of plenty when she remembers those who worked 14 plus hour days just to feed their families.
Yes, it's easy to judge the acquisition of so many things we don't need or even want. But never forget that we can only do this because our need for food and shelter is already met to a standard the much of the world only dreams of. Be grateful. Be enormously grateful.
I don't think a tattoo on my hip would be much of a mnemonic aid. I sure wish my need for food and shelter was already met. I spend about 90% of my income on it, if I count utilities.
I don't think a tattoo on my hip would be much of a mnemonic aid. I sure wish my need for food and shelter was already met. I spend about 90% of my income on it, if I count utilities.
13,000 plus posts? I'm guessing you have your own computer. And you have utilities? Then you obviously have shelter. And I bet you haven't gone hungry - ever. And you have 10% left over? PERSPECTIVE. Like I said - be grateful.
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