Cheap luxuries, simple pleasures
Life in the rat race can get quite complicated as we are driven to chase this so then we can have that, do that so there is a chance to get more of this. It is a constant movement of artificial actions so we can have a more organic experience. Why don't we just stop? Why not just take a step away from it all?
Perhaps it is because what is on offer is just so compelling to us, the glitz and glamour advertised hijacks our reward systems and drives us to aim to achieve. I think these days we surround ourselves with aspirational content whereas before we leant more toward inspirational people. The people are still there of course but it is less about what they have accomplished and more about what they possess.
Celebrities have become our rolemodels and their many failings in these positions get overlooked as they are not the target at all, it is their bank account, their clothing, their fortune and the power it derives that we want. We do not care who they are at all, they are just a means to an end, a window through which to view possibility. They are coat hangers for our desires.
We care so little about who they are and so much about what they have that we do not care when they fall and if anything, we take glee in the tumble. Perhaps it is from jealousy or, perhaps unconsciously we think that now there is more available for us, perhaps we could get a little piece of what they have left behind. We think with just a little bit more, we will become happy, one more pair of designer shoes, a new model car, an extra coin. We think luxury can be bought.
This photo of two swans reminds me of some of this. It was on the last full day of our honeymoon in 2015. The picture was taken in Varenna on Lake Como. I clearly remember taking it and I watching them as my wife and I talked.
Here are these two beautiful birds floating gracefully through life surrounded by wealth, stars and expensive toys yet, are oblivious to it all. They are just happy to enjoy the lake and the simple pleasures it offers them. That is a life of luxury isn't it? A life where there is nothing to be concerned with other than finding a little food and enjoying each other's company.
Our world is not set up for such things though is it? The only way to get there seems to work and earn enough that life stops hunting us, stops chasing us for rent or tax, fees, subscriptions, bills and all the other costs that must be paid to hold them at bay. The only way out is to out earn them.
We live in a world where we are born owing and the only way to get out of the system is to pay it off by buying in. It is a debt cycle trap of which there is very little escape as even when there is extra, the debt collectors are never more than a month away. The amounts might change but, we are all a part of it. All tied to something, whether it be a credit card or a telco, the bills will never stop so, we must keep earning.
Perhaps one day we will move back toward a world where people are again the focus instead of what they possess and then, take it further. Maybe we will have a situation where the debts are cleared, the bill cycle halted and we can enjoy each others company for who we are. I think once the hunters that chase us are no longer a threat, we will find that the desire to compete and collect for a luxurious life will diminish rapidly as, the luxury would already be there, in the simple pleasures.
Taraz
[ a Steemit original ]
It's not just that the celebrities who are considered role models are just celebrities. The problem is compounded by the fact that most of these so called stars are actually fluff decorative pieces, with no real achievement in life except for being famous.
It's weird, because they seem to be part of the system that has decided to make sure that people do not wake up. In fact these pieces of fluff are actually used to lull us into inaction.
They are definitely an engineered part of the system. The equivalent of holding a gladiator battle when the masses get restless.
It's a huge shame, but you are right. I spend most of my life looking over my shoulder as the bills chase me throughout the month. There's a little respite when pay day arrives, but it doesn't last long. It's one of the reasons I became involved with cryptocurrency trading. I view it as an opportunity to set myself up for life so I can keep the wolves away from the door of my family and friends.
Me too and I am hoping that many will have a chance to halt the wolves. Perhaps, we have a way to stop them completely in time.
That's definitely the dream. Fingers crossed we make it happen. Taking action every single day toward that goal is the only way to find out!
That picture is funny. It juxtaposes a swan couple with a powerboat chained to a buoy. I wonder which of the swans is the powerboat? lol
lol... how do you tell a boy swan from a girl swan?
Depends on whether you're talking about the sailboat or the bird.
I mentioned before that I cut myself loose from wanting all the "high life"materials on offer in the world. People do become too driven by the shiny things and this drive destroys so many people's lives and sometimes costs some of them the ultimate price. I have as I have gotten a little older wanted to be more like my father. He found a profound joy in his family, teaching, reading, classical music and such. I prefer those treasurable friendships with people of like mind and passion.
We have a mortgage on our home, but we also built a studio which we rent out which easily covers mortgage costs. No other debts. When we travel, the income from renting out our home is enough to live from. I sometimes forget that this is probably a unique situation, and a lot more financial freedom than most people have. Not just the freedom to pack your bags and go, but also not the continuing pressure of paying off debts. It does allow for a relaxed way of living, with time and energy left for what matters in life. Thanks for your beautiful post.
I am working very hard to get a little of that. Basic living, personal investment and a little luck....
My belief is that the hustles and bustles of the world is vain. Yes! This is true but also a man can not be in the world without hustling. We have to see past challenges and also learn from personal experiences of successful people so we too can be successful. Focus on how they got there and not just what they possess or where they are already.
We consume inspirational content but yet we aren’t inspired within ourselves.
Then when you should get result, you look around because you were just consuming and not executing
Those who aspire to be famous often do so out of narcissistic reasons, a desire to be somebody, perhaps to fulfill a need to be seen and recognized that was not met in their early years. It is not an enviable position to be dependent on the favour of the masses. It is hardly surprising so many performing artists and other celebrities succumb to the pressure, develop an addiction or go through a breakdown, and die prematurely.
I was talking about this yesterday with a group class and the other day in chat. They likely have several predispositions that both drive them and open them to negative influences.
Nice nature photography!
I have never wanted money for the luxuries it can buy but for the security, freedom and lack of worry that it buys.
Money doesn't buy freedom. That's a myth. Money buys more restrictions and constraints. Once you have money, you're now prisoner to it. If you were to lose it, you'd be more likely to lose yourself .. as opposed to never having money and being free of society's expectations and boundaries.
Freedom is a state of mind, not something that you gain from material wealth.
Money stands for help from other people. Unless you're Robinson Crusoe, you can't survive without help from others. That is to say, we are all forced to spend and therefore to obtain money to survive. Having money equals security in the sense that with enough money you are not in any danger or running out of money necessary for survival.
You need a certain degree of material wealth to survive. Also, money gives you options. If you get into trouble, money (= help from other people) can help you a great deal in solving that problem.
Yikes. I don't really know where to go with this.
It sounds like you are stuck in support of a "welfare state" and believe in the merits of communism. If you feel that you're dependent on others to survive, in a manner other than for mental health reasons, you're showing tendencies of Marxism, Socialism, Fascism, Communism, or something similar.
You don't need "material wealth" to survive. You could live and survive in a jungle if you learned the skills required to make shelter and acquire food and clean water.
You seem to be making statements based on the existing broken society that so many of us live in. Not based on facts of Life and reality. Living "off the grid" and away from today's oppressive society that we have come to know as"normal" is absolutely possible. Will it provide you with all of the creature comforts that you have come accustomed to? No. Do you need all of those creature comforts to survive? Definitely not.
The jungles of this planet cannot support seven billion humans.
There was never a time in our hunter-gatherer past when we did not live in communities. Division of labor, religion and the collective are as old as humanity itself. The illusion of individualism that radical or individualism in the first place is even possible in a highly developed modern society providing niches for the rare lone wolf to dream of living in freedom as a lone caveman.
While we have technology, we are far from a "highly developed" species, or even society. The modern and highly developed society which you speak of only covers probably 1/3 of the population of the world, at best.
Sure, communities exist globally, but government oppression has created the environment that you seem so comfortable to live in.
I'm not suggesting everyone live in jungles. I'm saying that if you wanted to live as an individual, or even a family unit, off-the-grid, it's more than possible.
Religion is not as old as humanity, please try again. Religion was clearly after humanity. In no reality can you even try to conceive otherwise. That's not even close to the chicken and the egg argument.
What are you going to do when you or a child of yours becomes seriously ill?
It's not a chicken an egg argument. What I'm saying is that primitive humans had religion. When the requisite cognitive ability was there, religion emerged. Usually such religions centered around the worship of ancestors and nature. Primitive people were and continue to be very religious by modern standards - also very communitarian. Also, living off the grid is different from living independently of civilization. If you can make everything yourself or live in some small close-knit community somewhere that has the resources to make everything you need, then you can say you don't need money because your living in some kind of self-sufficient mini-communism. But if you are leading the life of a modern nomad, it is patently laughable to say that money is worthless to you.
So what you meant to say was "Division of labor, religion and the collective are as old as SOCIETY itself. "
My point is that society was not in existence at the inception of humanity.
Also, there are many forms of society. There is no need for division of labor when all individuals are self-sufficient.
Does it add efficiency? Sure.
Is it necessary for survival? No.
What's wrong with living a life where your life is not prolonged by drugs and "modern medicine"? Is it such a terrible thing to accept that there is a timeline associated with life which is outside of human control?
Just because "modern society" has done things in a specific way for a number of years, does not mean that it has been done in the correct way.
Modern Society is materialistic. Modern society worries about keeping up with others around them in acquiring material objects; that's akin to Envy and Greed. Modern society is happy with sitting around while other people do things for them; Sloth. Oh, and don't forget the problem that Modern society has with obesity; Gluttony. If you look around the world at all of the hate and violence, I am certain that you will find plenty of Wrath. Check the recent levels of divorce rates, and you'll find Lust. And if you look at governments around the World, you'll find an abundance of Pride .. or if you want to focus on a single leader, you don't need to look any further than Donald Trump.
So, yeah.. Modern Society is amazing. Let's keep doing what we're doing and expect a different outcome.. hmm, that sounds a little like the definition of insanity.. nah, we're OK.
These hunters will never back down until we personally change the definition of what a better life is. This term requires a rethinkif not, the we keep going in circles unkowingly
around and arounds, ups and downs.