<font size="+2" color="000080">POSSESSING "THINGS"</font>
"The lovely 'toy', so fiercely sought,
Hath lost its charm by being caught."
http://www.dca.org/articles/possess012900.htm
Myvesta.org - Myvesta.org
© 2000 Myvesta.org, Inc.
How true the above statement is when it comes to purchasing "things."
You see an item. You want it. You just cannot live without it.
You don't have the money to purchase the item. You buy it anyway. You take it home, look it several times and forget about it.
Your friends compliment you on it once, then forget about it.
Two months later you question why you ever bought the trinket in the first place. But you rarely get rid of the item. It becomes part of your "collection."
You men in the reading audience are thinking, "Yep. That describes my wife perfectly. The house is full of trinkets. The yard is full of gadgets."
Women who are reading this are nodding their heads, "Boy, is that my husband. The garage is full. The basement is full. The garden shed is full."
We North Americans tend to surround ourselves with possessions. The more we possess, the happier we think we will be. Our motto is "Give me, give me, give me." Our crest depicts a hand holding a credit card.
People surround themselves with possessions for many different reasons.
For some, it is to make up for the fact that they were raised in poverty. They never owned anything during their childhood, so they want things now.
For others, the need to possess goes far deeper into the fabric of their lives. "Things" fill the void left by lack of love and self worth.
Some buy possessions for other people, including children and grandchildren, because they want to be remembered and loved.
Some busy parents surround their children with things in place of parental attendance and guidance.
Some people buy out of loneliness.
Some people impulse-buy to impress friends and fellow shoppers.
Stop, all of you. Stop right now. Do not purchase another thing until you have examined your own reasons for possessing it.
Look around. Do you honestly need anything? Do you use what you've got? Do you appreciate what you've got? Do you even know what you've got?
What are these possessions telling you? What do they mean to you now, after the thrill of the shop?
Why did you buy them? Is your having to possess things directly connected to your addiction to shopping? If so, you are caught in a vicious circle: spend - possess - spend - possess - spend . . .
Whose money are you using to purchase stuff?
Who isn't getting paid because you are purchasing unnecessary possessions?
What important daily rations are you doing without to gain useless gadgets?
What is your family doing without so that you can possess?
Who are you punishing by frivolously spending money?
Are you using money that can be better spent, money that could be tucked away for your old age?
Are you charging on credit cards already maxed to the limit?
Ask yourself, "What is my family going to do with these things when I die? Who cares about this collection? Are they really going to be appreciated? Are they all going to end up in a landfill?"
Do yourself a favor. Stop purchasing unnecessary items for six months.
What is the definition of unnecessary?
* Anything that is not included in your regular monthly household expense.
* Anything that is purely decorative.
* Anything that is purely nostalgic.
* Any item remotely resembling something you already own.
* Anything that "speaks" to you.
* Any item that is whimsical.
* Anything that needs dusting.
* Anything that you always wanted but never had the money to buy.
* Anything you will use - eventually.
* Anything you have to make room for in a garage/tool shed or barn.
* Any unnecessary item for a member of your family (birthdays and anniversaries included - give them an edible gift).
Stop buying as a recreational past time.
Stop shopping when you are lonely. Stop shopping when you are browsing with friends.
Start giving things away.
Pay down your credit cards by holding a gigantic garage or auction sale.
Take charge of your life and financial future.
Possess less.
Save more.
Fair use for educational/research purposes only!
BUY GOLD!
"The lovely 'toy', so fiercely sought,
Hath lost its charm by being caught."
http://www.dca.org/articles/possess012900.htm
Myvesta.org - Myvesta.org
© 2000 Myvesta.org, Inc.
How true the above statement is when it comes to purchasing "things."
You see an item. You want it. You just cannot live without it.
You don't have the money to purchase the item. You buy it anyway. You take it home, look it several times and forget about it.
Your friends compliment you on it once, then forget about it.
Two months later you question why you ever bought the trinket in the first place. But you rarely get rid of the item. It becomes part of your "collection."
You men in the reading audience are thinking, "Yep. That describes my wife perfectly. The house is full of trinkets. The yard is full of gadgets."
Women who are reading this are nodding their heads, "Boy, is that my husband. The garage is full. The basement is full. The garden shed is full."
We North Americans tend to surround ourselves with possessions. The more we possess, the happier we think we will be. Our motto is "Give me, give me, give me." Our crest depicts a hand holding a credit card.
People surround themselves with possessions for many different reasons.
For some, it is to make up for the fact that they were raised in poverty. They never owned anything during their childhood, so they want things now.
For others, the need to possess goes far deeper into the fabric of their lives. "Things" fill the void left by lack of love and self worth.
Some buy possessions for other people, including children and grandchildren, because they want to be remembered and loved.
Some busy parents surround their children with things in place of parental attendance and guidance.
Some people buy out of loneliness.
Some people impulse-buy to impress friends and fellow shoppers.
Stop, all of you. Stop right now. Do not purchase another thing until you have examined your own reasons for possessing it.
Look around. Do you honestly need anything? Do you use what you've got? Do you appreciate what you've got? Do you even know what you've got?
What are these possessions telling you? What do they mean to you now, after the thrill of the shop?
Why did you buy them? Is your having to possess things directly connected to your addiction to shopping? If so, you are caught in a vicious circle: spend - possess - spend - possess - spend . . .
Whose money are you using to purchase stuff?
Who isn't getting paid because you are purchasing unnecessary possessions?
What important daily rations are you doing without to gain useless gadgets?
What is your family doing without so that you can possess?
Who are you punishing by frivolously spending money?
Are you using money that can be better spent, money that could be tucked away for your old age?
Are you charging on credit cards already maxed to the limit?
Ask yourself, "What is my family going to do with these things when I die? Who cares about this collection? Are they really going to be appreciated? Are they all going to end up in a landfill?"
Do yourself a favor. Stop purchasing unnecessary items for six months.
What is the definition of unnecessary?
* Anything that is not included in your regular monthly household expense.
* Anything that is purely decorative.
* Anything that is purely nostalgic.
* Any item remotely resembling something you already own.
* Anything that "speaks" to you.
* Any item that is whimsical.
* Anything that needs dusting.
* Anything that you always wanted but never had the money to buy.
* Anything you will use - eventually.
* Anything you have to make room for in a garage/tool shed or barn.
* Any unnecessary item for a member of your family (birthdays and anniversaries included - give them an edible gift).
Stop buying as a recreational past time.
Stop shopping when you are lonely. Stop shopping when you are browsing with friends.
Start giving things away.
Pay down your credit cards by holding a gigantic garage or auction sale.
Take charge of your life and financial future.
Possess less.
Save more.
Fair use for educational/research purposes only!
BUY GOLD!