The other day, I over-heard a conversation where two women gushed over a car one had just purchased. The car she presently has is only 3 years old. Her friend was shocked that she already wanted another car when her present car only had 40,000 miles on it.
“Your car is immaculate, why would you buy a new one?” she asked.
The girl replied that she deserved a new car because she wanted to upstage her neighbor.
“Really?” her friend said looking at her surprised.
“Do you think it’s really necessary on what kind of car you have when you already have a nice one?”
She never got her answer, but the conversation went on a tangent about what her neighbor has and how stuck up she was… Really? Do you know anyone like this?
Let’s think about this for a moment…..
Are we ungrateful or just complacent?
When are we ever just grateful for what we have in our own lives RIGHT now ? Your kids are a given, but I am talking 
about everything else?
- Your home
- The food you eat
- The friends you have
- The job you have
- The clothes you wear
- The warmth in your home
- Your health
Maybe those selections are just too easy. But what about when we stress and moan over something that we don’t have for years and then out of nowhere we get it. You revel in the fact that you have what you always wanted, and then you see someone with a newer version and you moan about getting a new version too. What gives?
- Why aren’t we ever just happy with what’s in front of us?
- Why does something drastic have to happen for us to realize how lucky we already were?
Are we just too complacent?
Envying our neighbor
Everyone walks a different path in the life decisions they make. Some of us have great jobs, where one can stay home and manage house, kids and all else, while still others have to work more than one job to make ends meet. Do we envy what our neighbor has because it looks better, or do we remember to be grateful for the good fortune we already have? Most times, when we think those have it better than us, it doesn’t always turn out the way we think. Everything isn’t always as it appears.
Spending more, when we have nothing more to leverage
With so many people losing their homes, there are those that still have a home and still feel the need to one-up their neighbor or to keep up with the Jones’. Some spend money they don’t have to take vacations they can’t afford, borrow money that they can’t pay back or leverage their finances for items they can’t possibly put in their budget. Spending more than you have ultimately will put you in the poor house.
Always wanting the “new” one because you think you need it
Like the girl in the story, she clearly already had a great vehicle with no problems, but felt the need to upstage her neighbor, for lack of a better word. Wanting something and finally getting it is like winning the jack pot, but once that “newness” wears off, how happy are you then? When you have a good thing right in front of you, don’t miss the big picture just because its new.
Never satisfied
No matter what people have, they just never seem to be happy with what’s right in front of them. A nice home, a great job, the ability to keep their family warm, or food on the table. The little things in our life are what make us who we are. Having a big house is nice, but maintaining it will be costly, whereas driving an expensive car comes with costly repairs and high insurance. If you can’t be happy with what you have now, having all the money in the world will never make you happy.
Step back and take a look at your life.
Think about all the little things that make up who you are and why you’re here now. Life is to short to forget all we have, all we could lose and all that will slip by if you don’t stop and take notice.
[author] [author_image timthumb='on']http://www.richlymiddleclass.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Sonia-Winland-2012.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Sonia is a Marketing Coordinator for a Leading Software Company and the founder of LogAllot where she blogs about Marketing, Blog Design, Blogging and Travel tips. When she isn’t blogging, she is an avid golfer, bass fisher and part-time travel agent. [/author_info] [/author]
I really love the bottom line in this one – no money can make you happy. It’s from within and how you view things. Wonderful piece Sonia.
(dofollow)
Lisa recently posted…Is Spark Rebel Like Pinterest?
Hey Lisa! Nice to see you here (from over on HER and I’ve been on your site and seen you around on others)! I agree, Sonia did a great job and nothing can make us happy unless happy within, its like constantly trying to fill a big up that has a whole in it, its tiring, defeating and pointless! Thanks for the comment (c:
(dofollow)
Kate recently posted…Taking Back Your Marbles
Happy Birthday my sweet fairy!!! Oh yeah, you’re amazing, we think you’re ibdrecinle You deserve the best in the world according to the words from my heart; because you filled it with you’re wonderfull voice, and you’re pretty madness, I love you Kate, with all my soul. I hope you read it, if it’s like that, you’ll know how much you give to my feelings, you teached me to heared you, and since I heared you, you’re the light of my brain. I love you Kathy!For ever you I’m Luis Ferreira, from ArgentinaIf you want to answer me: . Never lose hope !
Thanks Lisa, when I heard that conversation, I couldn’t help think about the economy and how still some people think with the wrong motives and still try and live a life they clearly can’t afford.
(dofollow)
Sonia recently posted…2 Smart Tips Why People Buy People
Sonia,That is a pretty masvise list you have there, but I would agree with all of them. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people ask for help and have not done the research themselves. But on that same note, and a personal struggle for me, is getting hung up on learning so much that I forget to do. The key is researching and learning what you need, then asking pointed questions, getting into debates and participating in conversations to learn the rest of the info.For example, if you were interviewing Michael Jordan during the highlight of his career, and you asked him how he got to be so good, he would probably give you some practiced line about working hard and keeping at it until you get good. But, if you took the time to learn about him and his style, and you asked him a question like I noticed when you are driving to the net and you have a defender on the left, you often move left, which is counter intuitive why did you choose this style of play instead of what other do?Now there, you have his attention because you are showing that you took the time to learn and do the research. From there, you can ultimately get the mind set behind how he got so good. Do the research, then ask your questions not the other way around Sorry for the lengthy post. Great article!Sal recently posted..
So. well. said. Sonia
I had to be homeless, arrested and betrayed before I turned my awesome brain-power and focus towards appreciating the air I breathe, the furniture I’m on, the streets I walk, the sun that rises, the body the breathes, and more.
I’d love for people to learn this without the hardship, though from the stories I’ve examined… it seems that that’s the way we learn lol
Unfortunately Jason, try as we might, we seem to only learn from our mistakes or divine intervention!! We can only do what we can do for others and surrender the rest (the same goes for ourselves). I totally agree, Sonia did a great job, I love the article and the message, it’s something so many need to read but also really take in!
xoxo for now,
Kate
I remember you touching on this briefly on your blog. I can’t imagine what you went through, but I can see your drive behind what you do now. I had a friend that ended up homeless and when he moved back here to be with his mom, he woke up to see how lucky he really had it before he left to get away from his mom. Now he works his butt off and has a safe place to lay his head each night.
(dofollow)
Sonia recently posted…Blogger Spotlight: Sylviane Nuccio, Sylvianenuccio.com
wow Sonia, I love this! I totally feel what you are saying, Life is way too short to worry about anyone but ourselves, our loved ones, what we put out in the world and the here and now! We need to stop complaining, start doing and be joyful. It’s all about “Being”. Being happy, Being content, Being grateful, Being in the moment, Being in the Now, Being able to move forward and take one step at a time while enjoying what we have and not wanting for more or what others have. If we are always wanting, we are never full. Thanks so much for your article, we love it!!
Xoxo for now,
(dofollow)
Kate
Kate H. recently posted…6 Fun, Fab, Fitness Activities for Kids & Family
I see this so often and I hate to see something terrible happen before people realize how lucky they already were. Wake up calls are never nice when you have to get slapped in the face to open your eyes.
Life is too short to sweat the small stuff because life already gives up so much in return. I found out a person I watched on TV just die this past Monday, but what I admired most about him, was that he lived his life to the fullest in his eyes. Doesn’t get any better then that. Thanks Kate for the opportunity!
(dofollow)
Sonia recently posted…Blogger Spotlight: Sylviane Nuccio, Sylvianenuccio.com
So true Sonia, Life is about living and loving. Period. Some people def need a slap in the face but I think so many of us try to protect them from that wake up call that they never wake up, maybe they need to just fall once in awhile, you know?
No worries girl, we are honored to have you!
Xo