As I look around I see that life is really good for a lot of people. I mean REALLY good! I remember being 30 and longing for so many things. Our furniture was used and old, our cars were old, our dishes were gifts, our TV was used, we did not have cell phones or computers, the newest things we had was clothing. Our house did not have half of the crap we have in it now. We were starting a family, building our own house and trying not to work too much. This is how life used to be, we didn’t have a lot of the things we have now mostly because it was not available.
I remember one time needing a tub faucet for our inspection and the inspector made me get one before he would let me move on. I went down to the hardware store and bought the only one they had. We didn’t like it but that’s just how it was. There was no mega box home store. There was no order it online. There was no other way. Period. So there you go. Moving on. Just live with it. It worked and well. What more could be expected?
Here we are today and every shade of paint has a name because if you don’t like Mountain Mist you can get Ocean Foam. You can’t tell them apart from the fact that you don’t like the sound of one and do like the other. There are in excess of fifty faucets of all different shapes and sized at any one of 5 stores in just about any town in America these days. If not, the one down the road 20 miles. “I think I’ll just pop over there now and pick one up!” We would never have done that back then. Even though gas was cheap it wasn’t free and 20 miles away was an event. You would plan a trip like that for a weekend. Not quite a vacation but certainly not within a Wednesday evening affair. And that was likely competing with tomorrow’s gas to get to work!
Life is really different now. The poorest of working people have so much more than we had then. There is so much more available. A person today can outfit an entire house for next to ‘free’ on CL or marketplace. People have so much stuff they can hardly get rid of it. A lot of it gets hauled to the dump because no one will come haul it off. Has any of this difference added up to The Better Life?
I think not. I think more stuff has gotten in the way of the things that are most valuable. Not in the way you might think, or maybe you do? All of this availability has seemingly made most people more entitled. Expectant. Deserving. Wanton. So much so that if it comes at a cost to another there is nary a consideration for the imposition. I want it and if you have a problem with the situation, “well, that’s YOUR problem.” On top of that is “I shouldn’t have to do what is needed to get it.” Including be appreciative of the person giving it away on marketplace by responding in a manner showing respect for the person wanting to help you along. I tell my wife now don’t put anything up on there, put it on the street. If its gone in two days great if not in the trash. I don’t want to make time for these people for any reason. I have too little time to give to those who actually do deserve my time and effort.
Something I’ve always done as an adult is look for good people and invest in their relationships. We are the do’ers, we are the inviters and the instigators. The more I have these experiences the more I realize that the quest for The Better Life is in seeking out more of those same kinds of people. Our communities have fallen into their living rooms, box stores and the internet. Mostly gone is the talking over the fence, sitting on front porches, block parties and card night.
We’re throwing away the crap that sucks our time. We’re inviting everyone who puts up a nice front. We’re going out and doing things that are not shopping. We are seeking people who want to be friends in The Better Life.
Please go be someone’s friend today and have The Better Life. The best life if one lived together.
Peace
Greg