It might seem like we are all defined by how much stuff we have these days…right? Well for most people it’s true that they feel more accomplished by owning massive amounts material possessions. You know how it feels to get a brand new pair of kicks, or smell that new car smell. But I ask you this…is it all really necessary? And does it really bring you happiness? Do the things that we own, really own us? Hopefully you said no because one day these things will break, or rip, or wear down and out. There isn’t anything we can do about it. As a teenager it’s almost impossible to escape this vicious cycle, so i write to my fellow teenagers of the world. We are old enough to understand difficult concepts like this, but young enough to change the future. Instead why don’t we try putting stock in something that actually does last and matter, our relationships with others and possibly our dedication to a cause? I come to you, my fellow American Youth, as a guide to a better, healthier, and….cheaper life style in hopes that you, my friend will listen and make a life change.
Many may argue that money can’t buy happiness. Well in a study that was done in 2004 it was shown in a survey that people who did yield a higher income reported to be happier, but not by much.
However, what they don’t point out is that what is given up in order to achieve this additional iota of reported happiness.
I know you’re saying, yeah this seems great and everything but I have needs to, and who says that I shouldn’t live comfortably when I have earned it. Well you’re right there is something to be said about earning a certain kind of lifestyle through hard work. However, when is it taken too far? The media is constantly exploiting people’s materialism, such as MTV’s shows “My Super Sweet 16” and “Cribs”. The houses and lavish parties that these people have are just ridiculous and amazing at the same time. Who would think that it would have ever been appropriate to buy a 16 year old a brand new car with the value of 50,000 dollars? However there is something to be said about the difference between the two shows. For instance, "Cribs" shows the lavish estates of celebrities that have worked hard to get where they are and enjoy this life style; while the princesses of "My Super Sweet 16" haven't done anything to earn these huge parties and expensive gift except be born into the right family . My point is however, that society is telling us that it’s ok to have these things in excess, though television and advertising. It almost seems as if the world is run on materialism. When we turn on the TV or open a magazine we see a commercial for Apple’s Ipad, and a post-modern sweater that was featured at NYC’s fashion week with a price tag of only 500 dollars and a little piece of your soul. I’m over exaggerating of course, but you can’t deny that we are constantly bombarded with advertising and reasons why we need to buy a certain product.
Is there a solution to this problem? I believe so, even though it an easy pill to swallow…STOP BUYING STUFF. Obviously you can’t stop purchasing things all together, after all we need food and clothes and shelter; those are the basic needs of a human being. However, the designer coffee, clothes, and the 2 million dollar houses for 3 people is over kill. However, are people at the end of the day happy with themselves, or is this always this longing for more? Women think “if I could only find those perfect jeans that make my butt look good, I would be happy and likeable”; While men think, “If I could only get that cool air intake put on my already overpriced car, then I could eat with the cool kids at school.”
I know you’re saying, yeah this seems great and everything but I have needs to, and who says that I shouldn’t live comfortably when I have earned it. Well you’re right there is something to be said about earning a certain kind of lifestyle through hard work. However, when is it taken too far? The media is constantly exploiting people’s materialism, such as MTV’s shows “My Super Sweet 16” and “Cribs”. The houses and lavish parties that these people have are just ridiculous and amazing at the same time. Who would think that it would have ever been appropriate to buy a 16 year old a brand new car with the value of 50,000 dollars? However there is something to be said about the difference between the two shows. For instance, "Cribs" shows the lavish estates of celebrities that have worked hard to get where they are and enjoy this life style; while the princesses of "My Super Sweet 16" haven't done anything to earn these huge parties and expensive gift except be born into the right family . My point is however, that society is telling us that it’s ok to have these things in excess, though television and advertising. It almost seems as if the world is run on materialism. When we turn on the TV or open a magazine we see a commercial for Apple’s Ipad, and a post-modern sweater that was featured at NYC’s fashion week with a price tag of only 500 dollars and a little piece of your soul. I’m over exaggerating of course, but you can’t deny that we are constantly bombarded with advertising and reasons why we need to buy a certain product.
Is there a solution to this problem? I believe so, even though it an easy pill to swallow…STOP BUYING STUFF. Obviously you can’t stop purchasing things all together, after all we need food and clothes and shelter; those are the basic needs of a human being. However, the designer coffee, clothes, and the 2 million dollar houses for 3 people is over kill. However, are people at the end of the day happy with themselves, or is this always this longing for more? Women think “if I could only find those perfect jeans that make my butt look good, I would be happy and likeable”; While men think, “If I could only get that cool air intake put on my already overpriced car, then I could eat with the cool kids at school.”
Humor me for a second and imagine our world as a place where people only take as much as they need. Yes, there would be no such place as Sam’s Club, Costco, or BJ’s, but is buying in bulk really necessary for a family of 5? I know this man that is the CEO of a company that buys and sells life insurance; basically he makes a lot of money. He shops at garage sales and is very conservative with his money. Also he has a little girl whom isn’t spoiled at all and is very down to earth. This is the example that we should be following, take only what we need and no more. It can only make us better people. It would also solve a lot of problems that the world is facing like the over use of the world’s resources. The United States uses one third of the entire world’s energy.
All in all, we aren’t bad people for wanting to obtain massive amounts of belongings; after all we have been programmed that way since prehistoric times. However, we aren’t primitive cavemen anymore; we have higher levels of thinking. We can determine what is needed and what isn’t. And hopefully we can learn more about ourselves and our relationships in the meantime. Over and out friends
-The Average American Teenager.
