Our society seems to be under the impression that you can buy happiness. We are bombarded by advertisements which imply that our lives will somehow be better if we buy their products. The funny part about this is that many people seem to believe it. I grew up in the seventies, not really that long ago, but it was a lot different. We hung out with our families and invented our own fun. Those were the days.

Back then, if you wanted something you had to find a way to earn the money to buy it, or you simply went without it. We did not live in despair because we could not afford the newest gadgets. We did things together, like playing hide and seek, roasting marshmallows over a fire while telling stories, and we played many games of cards. All of these activities were so laughter filled that a person did not even notice that they did not have the things that "rich" people had.

Our houses were smaller, our cars were older, the clothes were not designer labels, and most of us only had one television set in the whole house. This would be a nightmare for today's young person. But we had so many things that many of them are lacking. It did not take both parents working to survive back then, because there was no mortgage, card payment, or credit card bill.

We got to spend time with mom all day, and instead of sitting in front of a video game or computer, we had fun baking cookies or raking the leaves into giant piles and jumping into them. Simple little things I know, but these memories bring me more joy than the day I bought my first new car.

It seems as though we have traded our togetherness for things, and this makes me sad. Most of the things that we think we need are not necessities, but luxury items. So many people work themselves ragged just to be able to afford the payments on their "stuff" that I cannot see how they get any enjoyment from them. It takes more work to maintain all of that bigger, better stuff that we buy, not to mention the stress of struggling to get the bills for all of it in on time.

Sure, you might have a huge home with a pool "for the kids", but how often are you around plus have enough energy left over to jump in with them? You might even have a fancy new SUV to haul around "the kids and their stuff". When was the last time you were able to just get everyone into the car to take a long ride to nowhere and stop for ice cream on the way there?

Yes, we do have more stuff than our parents had. On the other hand, our kids have less than we did. The sheer consumerism of our society has robbed us of our priorities. It just seems so pointless when I see so many people having to struggle to be able to spend time with their loved ones, just because they have to work to pay for their things. There is nothing wrong with wanting a good life for yourself and your family, but where do we draw the line between good and excessive?

Learn more about this author, Tracy A. Moore.
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