I’ll Have What She’s Having
As you consider your many talents, is “expert shopper” one of those?
If so, you were likely out before sunrise Friday morning to get the best bargains – and there were lots of them according to the retailers.
Shopping has become the passion of many in the US today. I am reminded of the famous saying “I’ll have what she’s having” out of the movie When Harry Met Sally (1989).
If you saw that movie, you know the lady who made that statement was not talking about shopping, but that’s what many shoppers today are thinking as they rush from one place to another to beat someone else out of a bargain or get that long list of holiday gift buying completed.
When DID we get this way as a society?
It must be the old “better than the Jones'” philosophy…the bigger house, bigger car, bigger everything. My Aunt Mary from Wales says that many people there think the US is all about things being bigger and better.
Fact is, in the big scheme of things, none if this bigger and better stuff is all that important. Of course, you wouldn’t know it from the advertisements on television, the ads connected to many of our internet access programs and billboards. Even buses have advertisement on the side and sports arenas are filled with them. Did you notice how THICK the newspaper was this week? I could hardly carry it all in without an ad falling out because most of it was advertising!
It all boils down to priorities.
We don’t have to have the same things everyone else has. We can be comfortable in a smaller home, a more economic car, less expensive – non designer – clothes and do lots more with our money than buying, and being in debt, with larger and more costly items.
During this season of excesses, why not consider adopting the “less is better” attitude and get a grip on perpetuating the atmosphere of excesses?
You, your waistline, and your pocketbook will appreciate it.
Oh, and while you’re at it, consider even giving some of your wealth and time away. That’s a novel approach for many of us. Sharing with those who are less fortunate can be quite satisfying and giving some of that shopping time away to volunteer may be extremely good for you and the recipients.
My wish for you today is that you find a way to make your life simpler and more reasonably free of excesses around this holiday season. You may find that taking the time to do this will be more rewarding and satisfying than you thought.
~Joellen