"Need"

by: Lia

What we think we “need” in America is absolutely absurd. We “need” a two-story house with 3 rooms, 2 bathrooms, a Jacuzzi tub, a large kitchen, a flat screen LCD television, two cars, at least 50 different outfits, and 100 shoes, junk food, and the list goes on and on.

In most countries they would be thrilled to have a place with four walls and a roof; who cares about windows or a door. Clean water is a luxury they can’t afford. They bathe themselves in toxic rivers filled with human excrement. Yet, somehow these impoverished countries seem to be a lot happier and grateful for what they do have.

It’s sad that we have to go without before we appreciate what we had. I am blessed that I grew up with very little money, always wondering if this would be the month we had to be out of our home. I am very simple and grateful for every little thing I have been given. That’s why it is hard for me to see people living in the U.S. with so much money and hoarding it for themselves. and wasting it convincing themselves that they “need” all this frivolous stuff.