I live in a country whose media bombards us with messages that what we have isn’t enough. We’re told we need new cars, new furniture, new devices, new clothes, new experiences, new this and new that. We “must” have the latest and greatest, and if we don’t – well then, we just aren’t good enough. My country seems to equate our ability to have things with the amount of happiness we can experience. Mine is not the only country that does this, too.
This way of thinking really traps us into spending money for things that will not make us happy. Happiness isn’t found in buying things or having things. Buying things and having things just makes our homes crowded and our pocket books empty. Sure, there’s a rush when we buy something. It makes us temporarily happy, but we aren’t satisfied.
We have so much. Most of the world still has problems with getting clean water on a reliable basis. Most of the world struggles with safe and protective housing. Most of the world struggles with reliable heat and power sources. Most of the world still struggles with educating its citizens. And, honestly, most of the world struggles with securing the safety of its citizens.
I spent 18 months in a country that struggled with all of these issues. The state controlled when its citizens received heat in the winter and hot water during the day. The water wasn’t safe to drink – we filtered it through three separate filters so we could drink it. Many of the people I knew had dirt floors, no indoor plumbing, and their homes were very poorly constructed. The police were viewed with suspicion and had reputations about as good as The Mob’s. My husband lived in a community that when cars came into the area it meant the drug cartels were in the area and were most likely there to kill someone. Both of these communities are in developing countries. The people in these communities didn’t have nearly as much as what is normal in my country, yet most of them were truly happy.
Truly, what satisfies can’t be found in stores, on-line, or in a magazine. Satisfaction has a cost, but it’s not money. Satisfaction comes from hard work, loving people, and helping others. Add to these three an appreciation for everything we do have, and then we achieve true happiness.
I look at my life and am overwhelmed by my blessings. At the touch of a button, I have light in my house. At the touch of a button, I have heating for my family. At the touch of a button, I have access to more information than I could ever comprehend. At the touch of a button, I can call for help from my local police and know they will respond and protect me.
This is just a small list. I haven’t mentioned any of the beauties of the world or other special people who bless me so much.
When I really look at all I have, I don’t need any more. Counting my blessings brings happiness and contentment, even in the face of difficulties or trials. Counting my blessings brings appreciation for the gifts I have and a humility that I have received so much. Counting my blessings cures the “want it” moments.
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Thanks for sharing this thought. I regularly follow posts, photographers and people who work in developing nations and every time I do count my blessings. It is so sad that life is extremely tough for many of the inhabitant of Earth and I so very much agree that money is not what we need to be happy. This was a very thoughtful post.
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Thank you for your thoughtful and kind comments. I’m glad you stopped by to read my post.
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How beautiful! We really are truly blessed and take so much for granted. I too have traveled to many countries and have seen so much poverty that those in the US couldn’t fathom. I try so much to teach my children to appreciate what they have. Thank you for the reminder on a Monday which can always seem hectic. Take the time to slow down and smile and be thankful!
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It seems to always be a constant balance, teaching our children to appreciate what they have, and making sure they don’t feel guilty for having things. Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I look forward to reading more of what you have written.
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I sometimes wish that I could have experiences in other countries. I really have no concept of how different it is for third world countries. It would be nice to have some real perspective to keep me from taking so much for granted. I try to be grateful for what I have, but frequently fall into the “I need more” trap. I frequently feel like I am having to go without instead of being thankful for what I do have.
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It’s an easy trap to fall into. I struggle with it too. You should have heard me complaining about not having internet access for the last few weeks. I think I sounded a lot like a spoiled little baby. All we can do is try to keep things in perspective, right?
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It’s easy to let things like clean water, a roof over your head and feeling safe go unappreciated when you don’t have the life experience to tell you otherwise. But there are communities like you mentioned all over the world, including the USA. There are so many people who are hungry, homeless, alone and in harms way constantly. Thank you for reminding us to stop and be thankful for what we have.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
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A beautiful reminder to be grateful for what we have in our lives.
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Thank you for your kind comment and for stopping by.
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Oh thank you for this post! What a great reminder of how lucky and blessed we truly are. It’s so hard teaching my kids to appreciate the simple things in life when materialism is so rampant.
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It’s a hard lesson to teach, that’s for sure. The closer we get to Christmas, the more difficult it gets. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Great post! I was just talking with my kids about this since they were saying we are poor because they have to share rooms… It is so easy to look around and compare ourselves to our neighbors and they had a hard time understanding that we are incredibly rich compared to most of the world and even in our country, we’ve made different choices than a lot of people because we felt that God had something different for us so we foster too. I struggle with trying to walk that line between giving them a different perspective and teaching them to appreciate what we have and being the repeated broken record. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences!
-S.L. Payne, uncommongrace.net
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Your example will help them learn this lesson, and being a broken record is what parenting is all about. Thank you for following what you feel is right — that’s a lesson that will bless your children for their lifetimes. Thanks for your comments.
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I loved this post. It’s so very true. Spending time overseas greatly changed my outlook on life as well and I find that, even though I live in a very modest home, I feel so incredibly lucky to plant my roots here in Canada
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I was in the airport right after coming back to the states and had to use the restroom. I came out of the restroom carrying some of the industrial grade toilet paper. I told my mom that we needed to get some of this type because it was so soft. Remembering this story helps me keep my perspective about my modest home. Thanks for the comment and for reading.
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This. It’s so important to know that happiness doesn’t come from a shiny box. It comes from experiences, memories.
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Thank you for your comments. Yes, memories and experiences are what we can hold on too, everything else doesn’t matter.
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A beautiful reminder to be grateful for what we have, I think it’s so easy to fall into the trap of I need more because the way we are bombard with adverts in the west
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Yes, advertising certainly affects our appreciation of what we have. Thanks for the comment.
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Thank-you for this refreshing perspective! Happiness is truly about your perspective. If you always *think* you do not have enough, you will never be happy!
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That’s a really good point. Thank you for your comment.
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You are right. Once you count the blessings and look at the things you have then appreciate them, you will realize that you actually have every reason to the thankful!
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Thank you for the well said comment. I appreciate you stopping by.
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Great post! As an American it is truly easy to fall into the trap of not being thankful for what blessings we already have and seeing all the things we want. Everyday we are inundated with hundreds of ads telling us to buy, buy, buy. Thank you for reminding me to be thankful for what I already have.
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Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I’m glad you stopped by.