Posted on 12/24/2006 8:23:18 PM PST by Forgiven_Sinner
I grew up middle class, in my early married years, I was dirt poor and I'm now an millionare on paper and I've always been happy. It's nice to be able to pay the rent but it's also quite an adventure trying to figure out how to do it. I've been close to bankruptcy a few times and that is when you pull harder together than ever before. Hard times are the cement that holds you together with friends and family when the gravy comes.
I'm always amused by lib publications that preach to the choir about the dangers of over-consumption. Many of the habitues of this forum, Free Republic, tend to have more of the religious types than people on oh say...ah..DummyUnderground. That would mean we know that money isn't everything. The lib stooges write these articles like they are the first people to have discovered this. It's only been known for about five thousand years.
The trick here is to understand how God has blessed you can recognize how wonderful it is you aren't living in some forsaken hell hole where you cannot provide any hope or comfort for your loved ones. That ability to help keep your loved ones safe and provided for provides a significant level of meaning and translates directly into happiness when considering the bounty the Lord has permitted you.
Anyone who has a meaningful relationship with God can usually make the correlation. Those possessed of only a desire for embracing pursuit of happiness via materialism usually find it to be an empty and unfulfilled promise. That 60" HD TV won't love you back, it won't thank you, and it will never show gratitude nor share the joy of salvation through our Lord and Savior.
Materialism supported by profiteering/capitalism in itself is pursuit of nothing in the end, and that's what you go back to.
Inalienable rights...bump.
I don't necessarily agree. I think the author thinks that the readers think that there is a correlation. Or, the articles premise is that people generally believe that wealth and happiness are correlated.
What is happening here is a highly respected, fairly conservative, economics-oriented publication is starting to believe that there are limits to the amounts of material resources to be exploited on the planet. This type of thought process about "happiness" eventually leads to the outcome that human beings require more time with loved-ones and human interactions rather than more material possessions.
Our current economic system, however is predicated on convincing people they need more stuff, even though this might actually make them less happy. And, in earning the money and taking care of the stuff, they actually have less of what actually makes them happy i.e. family and friends.
Realistically, this is a message that is quite clear and obvious in the Bible and most other major religions too.
Since not everyone on the planet actually can drive an SUV in its current state, it is also economic reality.
The redefinition of wealth to include free-time and other things are all well and good;however there are at least 3 flaws: 1. There is no universal definition. An hour of time with my family or friends might be worth more or less to me than someone else; 2. Until everyone has their basic needs filled (see Maslow) it is irrelevant to talk about more complex needs and 3. The current definition of wealth is most certainly correlative to the ability to fight wars. So until the world is a more peaceful place, fewer resources means greater weakness.
If you want to be happy find your own, "golden middle". If you listen to Madison Avenue and Hollywood you will find idolatry. The bible is a much more reliable source. But at FR people generally know this. Which is why there is so much concern for the rest of America.
Happiness is realizing you have what you need.
When I reached adulthood it made me very happy to know I could buy an ice cream sundae anytime I wanted to without asking parental permission.
Several years later it made me very happy to know that I could afford to buy an ice cream sundae anytime I wanted to.
Several years after that it made me happy to know that an important someone in my life was very happy to buy me an ice cream sundae any time I wanted one.
Now even though I can have an ice cream sundae anytime I want one, except the arteries and waisteline say "no."
But, I just remember back to all the ice cream sundaes I had through the years, and I am happy.
Merry Christmas, Y'all.
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
There was an article in New York Magazine recently that described happiness and the happiness industry. One of the interview subjects theorized that a person's relative wealth is what causes unhappiness, once necessities are fulfilled. Many of the unhappy people (Libs) I know have the irritating habit of whining about how much others have.
Check out http://give-n-go.blogspot.com
Ah, but I think the person who knows a personal relationship with Christ in a forsaken hell hole will have just as much happiness knowing there is a better tomorrow; have happiness in the peace of that relationship. Maybe moreso than someone in the USA, where things come too easily to us.
I've been close to bankruptcy a few times and that is when you pull harder together than ever before. Hard times are the cement that holds you together with friends and family when the gravy comes.
I've been close to bankruptcy a few times and that is when you pull harder together than ever before. Hard times are the cement that holds you together with friends and family when the gravy comes.
Let's consider this in another direction....
In our society we are seldom allowed - or allow ourselves - unalloyed happiness.
As we sit at the Thanksgiving/Christmas/or other holiday table with those we love, eating our fill...we are asked to never forget those who have less.
When we buy a new coat, we are asked to remember those who have no coats at all.
As we sprint down the street, we are asked to always remember those who are shutin or in wheelchairs, etc.
Whenever we are happy, we are always asked to feel a certain amount of hesitation (which often translates into guilt) for others who are not happy.
I do understand the need to care for others (it is a basic tennet of the Judeo/Christian view) - but is it healthy to always be sked to have a guilty spot in the midst of happiness?
Is there no time when we can just enjoy what is happening - at that moment in time - without these other shades casting a shadow?
What do you think?
To think of others less fortunate, even while enjoying your own good fortune, is perfectly healthy. Feeling guilty about success is not. What really causes unhappiness and hostility is living what is by all objective standards "the good life", but looking at others that have more. I've seen it firsthand.
An acquaintance of mine told me, teary eyed, about the hellish childhood he had because his was the poorest family in a wealthy neighborhood. "Back in the 60s my father only made $32,000 a year," he whined. I started laughing. My father never made more than $7,500 a year and I was a happy kid.
Good decision.
New Year's Resolution #1: Avoid all negative influences.
interesting article.
i think happiness is something measured by each individual.
sometimes, the simplest things bring the most happiness.
there's nothing like the hug from a little one, or a special guy,
who loves you. :)
I prefer hugs from girls, thanks. ;)
yeah, well, we prefer hugs from our guys :D
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