I want to talk to you about the issues.

Allow me to introduce myself, I am a twenty-two-year-old college student trying to get by in the world. I have a dream to spread a message throughout the world, this message is to think. The world is different than it was a decade ago and to someone like me, it seems worse off.

I admit I have taken life for granted, but I didn't expect everything to be just given to me, that I had to work hard to go somewhere in life. I don't want fame, I don't want to be filthy rich and live in a mansion. I want to live comfortably in a small home or apartment and be able to keep up on my bills and payments while keeping my car in top working order so that my spouse and I could travel back and forth between work and errands. This is a small dream, most people's dreams are much larger, having a trophy husband/wife, living in a two story house that is too large for just two people, owning an expensive sports car, being famous just to name a few.

I'm not trying to lump people into categories, but I am pointing out that we're not focusing on what's important, we're focusing too much on petty luxuries. This is the first issue I am addressing, are we just not happy where we are, or are we conditioned to not be happy where we are? Let me clarify this, are we not happy with a job, a house, a car, or a family? Or have we been watching too much television or have seen too many people that have more than us and we just can't be happy with what we have. We can't fill in the void of not having things by buying things that we can't afford, it's not worth it in the end. I know it sounds like I'm beating a dead horse, but think about it, have you ever bought an item just so you could say that you own it? I'm not talking about just any item either, this can range from actual practical things such as an expensive top-model kitchen appliance to something more luxury like a designer outfit with matching purse/tie.

It is in our nature to want the best, and what we describe as 'the best' can be left to discretion. What we want, what we need, what we own and what we throw away or donate are all different things. What we want is 'luxury' what we need is 'practical' what we own is 'outdated' and what we throw away or donate is 'trash'. How did we come to think this way? Is it the media's fault? Is it just how it's always been? Really, there isn't just one answer to that, everyone thinks differently and everyone has their own way to live. If you want my opinion, what we should all aim for is simplicity, and I'm talking everyone, rich, middle class, and poor alike. For those that own a house with more than enough rooms to house 10 people while only 2-4 are living there, do you really need a house that large? For those that own vacation homes that don't use them more than once a year, do you really need a home away from home while you're on vacation? The fun thing about vacations are the fact that you're away from home so you can meet new people at the hotel or at your relatives' house and even just the fact that you're allowed to travel for vacation.

I'll be brief wrapping up, if you're unhappy with where you're at right now because you can't have nice, luxurious things, then think about this. If you're able to keep up on payments, have a roof over your head, a car to travel with and/or a family that loves you, then don't worry about it. Simple things are what matter more in life than luxurious things, basically don't sweat what doesn't matter, just focus on your life as is, if improvements need to be made, think more of what you need rather than what you want. (This post is based on observation and opinion)