“Happiness is wanting what you have.” (Susan Ager bought a tile with these words on it) In her Free Press column she goes on to say that longing for stuff breeds misery. She sees a similarity between Bobby McFerrin and the Dalai Lama. Do you see it? Susan also mentions an organization, Center For a New American Dream, whose motto is “More fun, less stuff..” (www.new dream.org) This sort of reminds me of Dorothy’s words in The Wizard of Oz: “There’s no place like home.” ;-) Jack
FROM A.S. IN MICHIGAN: Having "stuff" makes life more complicated as we age I think.It takes more thought,time and energy just to deal with the every day things in life,leaving less for "stuff". Speaking of stuff is your train interest centered in steam or diesel or both;I started a steam collection but stopped(too much "stuff"). Love the sounds of both steam and diesel!
FROM PR P.H. IN MINNESOTA: all advertising is designed to do one thing: make us feel unsatisfied with what we have and desirous of what we don't have. we can never be contented according to Madison Ave.
FROM EMT SINGS IN MICHIGAN: I've always enjoyed Susan Agars columns. The more so as I had both of her Grandma's in the nursing home in Livonia that I worked at. I enjoyed seeing her parents visit them and then get some of her insights from columns that she wrote. Such an interesting life I have! (Being an observer of the human scene!)
FROM A.M. IN MICHIGAN: I have not read the Free Press in years and Agar was not a favorite of mine when I read it. But I do agree with this quote. Being satisfied with what one has brings great peace and comfort.
FROM B.S. NEAR ORLANDO: we were so happy to get what we needed, to getsome thing we wanted took a lot of engineuity explaining, but to little effect, we didn't have the money, except when the children pointed out they didn't have as many exercizing toys such as wagons, trikes, scooters, etc. as the kids across the street whose father operated a whore house. nuf sed. Bob. sure there are times when U must bite the bullet and respond to the children. It's too bad the economy isn't turned around and give new families the money they need and the old folks don't need as much.
3 comments:
How does todays saying rank with the saying " It's only a luxury until you have it"?(anon)
Ed A in West Bloomfield, MI
Colin Beavan and Michelle Conlin wrote in Elle Magazine, their "green issue" after they did this whole experiment of forgo electricity, creating no trash and boycotting all modes of carbon-fueled transportation for one year while living in a Manhattan high-rise with a kid "Once we got away from stuff and moved toward people, we began making real connections. In a lot of ways, our quality of life actually improved." I feel guilty about buying the magazine but it has also pushed me a little further along the path with wanting to try not having so much stuff and make real connections with people instead of stuff. One of those things you might have to experience in order to believe it.
Sharon
Colin Beavan and Michelle Conlin wrote in Elle Magazine, their "green issue" after they did this whole experiment of forgo electricity, creating no trash and boycotting all modes of carbon-fueled transportation for one year while living in a Manhattan high-rise with a kid "Once we got away from stuff and moved toward people, we began making real connections. In a lot of ways, our quality of life actually improved." I feel guilty about buying the magazine but it has also pushed me a little further along the path with wanting to try not having so much stuff and make real connections with people instead of stuff. One of those things you might have to experience in order to believe it.
Sharon
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