By JESSICA MCCOY
Computers, laptops, HDTVs, MP3s and smart phones fill our lives on a daily basis. A person’s day-to-day life is filled with electronic distractions and material possessions. The newest designer handbags or top-of-the-line sportswear is on almost everyone’s wish list this holiday season.
Yes, these things are new, exciting and in high demand, but there comes a time when people need to clear their lives of material things and get back to the basics.
Material things provide a distraction from a person’s life. A little break from the stresses of day-to-day life is sometimes necessary, yet when a new Juicy tracksuit and the latest Android phone are taking up all of someone’s time this poses a problem. These material distractions are not necessary for one to live a fulfilling and happy life.
The belief that people with more money and therefore things are happier is false. In a study conducted by the University of British Columbia and Harvard Business School, researchers asked over 429 people, earning a broad range of incomes from $5,000 to over $200,000, to rate their own happiness. The $55,000 earners weighed in at 76 on the happiness scale, and those who earned $125,000 were actually less happy at 67.
Simple things, like taking a walk in the park or playing a game of rummy with a loved one would be a more rewarding use of time. The little things are special and missed if one is too consumed in the material things they possess.
Certain responsibilities in life need to be taken seriously, and some experiences need to be experienced, yet when someone’s material things are distracting a person from life it takes away from the simple pleasures one gets from living. This distraction causes the “little things” that are so often taken for granted to be lost in the shuffle.
When one is constantly obsessed with obtaining the newest and latest items, it provides an unnecessary distraction in that person’s life. For example, being consumed by material possessions and what presents one will receive takes away from the real meaning of the holiday season, which is to spend time with family and friends.
When one is tempted to spend all his time with the latest products he should think of all the simpler and more personal things he could be doing.
Texts, e-mails and blog posts have become increasingly popular in this age of tech-savvy consumers. Yet however cool the newest electronics may be, they cause a person to become less personal with the electronic messages they send to friends and loved ones.
Writing a hand written letter, or making the extra trip to go and speak in person, provides a more personal touch and therefore is more fulfilling than texting and pressing send. It also makes the receiving end feel more special. This is especially true during the holidays when loved ones and friends are extra thankful for one another.
Generations of people have lived and lived well, without all the things people today have chosen to fill up their lives with. If ancestors have survived without all these material things then we should be able to live by their examples. Trimming the fat in one’s life and getting back to the basics can be a rewarding and fulfilling part of life.
When a person chooses to streamline his life and get rid of all the material possessions and electronic distractions, he can further appreciate the little things: taking a walk in the park, taking in the scent of the season or simply playing a card game with a loved one.