I take pride in the fact that never took our three kids to Disney world. In fact, probably the most extravagant vacation was driving to Mount Rushmore. That said, they never lacked clothing, food, or shelter. All are on their own, married and we have two grandchildren. I always told them, "If you think you have a bad life, look around. There will always be people who have more than you do and many, many more people who have less. Spend less than you earn, save for the future, be nice, pay your taxes." One of my favorite quotes is, "Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out." Amen
Very well said fine sir. Teaching our kids to be grateful for what they have instead of always wanting more is really solid parenting that fits well into a sustainable future for the planet. Living within your means is right up there in terms of keeping a healthy balance. It's frequently a challenge but achievable with serious commitment for most of us.
Thank you Brian for your two cents and Happy New Year to you all!
Your advice to your children was very wise and they became happy, responsible adults. My boy also learned that we don't improve our lives through what we get, but rather through what we give. The Golden Rule says it all in one sentence.
"we don't improve our lives through what we get, but rather through what we give." is spot on because it requires a foundation of gratitude which never steers a person in the wrong direction.
BTW - "Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out." That's another wonderful philosophy to which I would add my own - "Amen"
For millennia we were focused on avoiding starvation. Now, we focus on accumulating surplus. Where's the gratitude for our existence and the compassion for the less fortunate? Are we more joyful yet?
Thanks Manual - So very true. There is a Bible passage in the New Testament about some wealthy guy building bigger barns for all of his surplus and it wasn't in a good light. The lack of compassion isn't new, but it certainly seems to be in our faces like never before. It puts a little more onus on us to be the change we want to see.
".... the last decade has witnessed an unprecedented decrease in rational thought ... our economy is built on the premise that most of us will always want more." Exactly so, Mark. BUT I threw out my TV six years ago and began getting well immediately without Arntuset. Best thing I ever did, and It was SO EASY.
(WE don't have cable but we keep our tv for library DVD's)
BUT, I still have at least a couple hundred people to sell my "Arntuset" to. Long live the mighty dollar! What do you think of my new marketing slogan? - " I'm gonna be happy if it kills me"
A telling version is Nate Hagens account of when, before his ecological epiphany and time in the wilderness, he managed the money for billionaire clients. His part explanation is that it is a 'brain thing', serves well if you are perhaps looking for tubers with a digging stick to feed the family, but is hijacked into a cultural distortion. Like capitalism works, sort of, on the way up, could get tricky on the way down.
Thanks Philip for your keen insight. "Highjacked into a cultural distortion" and capitalism working on the way up but tricky on the way down - they're both SPOT ON!
Serendipity strikes again. Smile. If anyone wants to take up Nate Hagens version of the hijacked 'brain thing, I received this notification a few minutes ago. Quoting NH: "When this video is posted, I will be in the midst of a 5 week ‘limbic reset’ - a personal technology detox and group experience on shifting behavior away from ‘focus’ towards ‘awareness’."
I take pride in the fact that never took our three kids to Disney world. In fact, probably the most extravagant vacation was driving to Mount Rushmore. That said, they never lacked clothing, food, or shelter. All are on their own, married and we have two grandchildren. I always told them, "If you think you have a bad life, look around. There will always be people who have more than you do and many, many more people who have less. Spend less than you earn, save for the future, be nice, pay your taxes." One of my favorite quotes is, "Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out." Amen
Very well said fine sir. Teaching our kids to be grateful for what they have instead of always wanting more is really solid parenting that fits well into a sustainable future for the planet. Living within your means is right up there in terms of keeping a healthy balance. It's frequently a challenge but achievable with serious commitment for most of us.
Thank you Brian for your two cents and Happy New Year to you all!
Your advice to your children was very wise and they became happy, responsible adults. My boy also learned that we don't improve our lives through what we get, but rather through what we give. The Golden Rule says it all in one sentence.
"we don't improve our lives through what we get, but rather through what we give." is spot on because it requires a foundation of gratitude which never steers a person in the wrong direction.
BTW - "Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out." That's another wonderful philosophy to which I would add my own - "Amen"
For millennia we were focused on avoiding starvation. Now, we focus on accumulating surplus. Where's the gratitude for our existence and the compassion for the less fortunate? Are we more joyful yet?
Thanks Manual - So very true. There is a Bible passage in the New Testament about some wealthy guy building bigger barns for all of his surplus and it wasn't in a good light. The lack of compassion isn't new, but it certainly seems to be in our faces like never before. It puts a little more onus on us to be the change we want to see.
".... the last decade has witnessed an unprecedented decrease in rational thought ... our economy is built on the premise that most of us will always want more." Exactly so, Mark. BUT I threw out my TV six years ago and began getting well immediately without Arntuset. Best thing I ever did, and It was SO EASY.
I truly am glad you've seen the light.
(WE don't have cable but we keep our tv for library DVD's)
BUT, I still have at least a couple hundred people to sell my "Arntuset" to. Long live the mighty dollar! What do you think of my new marketing slogan? - " I'm gonna be happy if it kills me"
Right on, brother!
Well said, Mark. All of it. Do you know the Hindu story of the monkey with its hand stuck in a jar? Classic illustration of the trap of greed.
Thanks Jeanne, I have a vague recollection of the story, but I need to get reacquainted with it - such a good metaphor.
Highly Commended! Smile.
The future really has to be better than the past?
A telling version is Nate Hagens account of when, before his ecological epiphany and time in the wilderness, he managed the money for billionaire clients. His part explanation is that it is a 'brain thing', serves well if you are perhaps looking for tubers with a digging stick to feed the family, but is hijacked into a cultural distortion. Like capitalism works, sort of, on the way up, could get tricky on the way down.
Thanks Philip for your keen insight. "Highjacked into a cultural distortion" and capitalism working on the way up but tricky on the way down - they're both SPOT ON!
Serendipity strikes again. Smile. If anyone wants to take up Nate Hagens version of the hijacked 'brain thing, I received this notification a few minutes ago. Quoting NH: "When this video is posted, I will be in the midst of a 5 week ‘limbic reset’ - a personal technology detox and group experience on shifting behavior away from ‘focus’ towards ‘awareness’."
https://youtu.be/QynYlsW35Sw
Tx again -Shifting behavior from focus toward awareness brings up the always relevant consideration of maintaining a balance.