The fact is - America is a “consumer culture”. It was deliberately made this way by the advertising industry starting in the early 1920’s, and deepened by the rise of the marketing industry 50 years later. Now these two industries plus a third - the technology industry - all conspire to barrage Americans 24/7 with enticements to buy things we don’t need. “Happiness” is sold in countless forms. One must learn to be content as one is, and learn to discern what one really wants and needs versus what is being sold to you.
We were a consumer culture from the start when Mercantilism was the prevailing economic theory. The colonies existed to provide raw materials to GB and then serve as a market for raw materials transformed into goods.
I've always wondered what 'happiness' was doing in the Constitution, but your very on point piece made me think that the emphasis in 'pursuit of happiness' is on 'pursuit' rather than 'happiness'.
Working at something that has meaning for you (whether that meaning is changing the world or putting bandaids on schoolkids' injuries), treasuring and spending time with friends who knows and love you just as you are, making a family - whether through biology or social choices, finding ways to move and be outdoors that makes you feel good, making and eating good food in company with friends... And also feeling the sense of duty well met - in whatever way you get outside your own mind and give back to your people, your community and your world. It's not that hard to find deep satisfactions in every day.
My life motto, insofar as I have such a thing, is "the best you can hope for is to avoid the worst". It makes my friends laugh, but it's served me well so far. No endless search for those putatively ecstatic moments which always lead to disappointment. No looking at social media or the prevailing culture to tell me what I should be doing. No obsessive commercial travelling, which always boils down to moving the ache from one place to another. Just ensure you're avoiding the worst (places, situations, people), make the conditions right for things to be good, make a few things that you like, keep learning about stuff, acknowledge that death will be coming but it's OK.
The fact is - America is a “consumer culture”. It was deliberately made this way by the advertising industry starting in the early 1920’s, and deepened by the rise of the marketing industry 50 years later. Now these two industries plus a third - the technology industry - all conspire to barrage Americans 24/7 with enticements to buy things we don’t need. “Happiness” is sold in countless forms. One must learn to be content as one is, and learn to discern what one really wants and needs versus what is being sold to you.
We were a consumer culture from the start when Mercantilism was the prevailing economic theory. The colonies existed to provide raw materials to GB and then serve as a market for raw materials transformed into goods.
Come take a ride with me on a donkey cart.
Downtown is 3½ miles. We can be there in 2 hours.
I'm not saying it makes me happy, but I'm contented.
I've always wondered what 'happiness' was doing in the Constitution, but your very on point piece made me think that the emphasis in 'pursuit of happiness' is on 'pursuit' rather than 'happiness'.
Undeniably true…
Unfortunately, capitalism runs on this fuel, selling “happiness” as the commodity of choice, so there’s no way around it.
It’s best to find your own happiness in small things, like a beautiful day, a healthy garden or a good glass of wine 🍷
Strange how even the uber-wealthy (mostly) aren’t really happy 🤔
Maybe if they tried helping others instead of only helping themselves, they’d get some…
Working at something that has meaning for you (whether that meaning is changing the world or putting bandaids on schoolkids' injuries), treasuring and spending time with friends who knows and love you just as you are, making a family - whether through biology or social choices, finding ways to move and be outdoors that makes you feel good, making and eating good food in company with friends... And also feeling the sense of duty well met - in whatever way you get outside your own mind and give back to your people, your community and your world. It's not that hard to find deep satisfactions in every day.
My life motto, insofar as I have such a thing, is "the best you can hope for is to avoid the worst". It makes my friends laugh, but it's served me well so far. No endless search for those putatively ecstatic moments which always lead to disappointment. No looking at social media or the prevailing culture to tell me what I should be doing. No obsessive commercial travelling, which always boils down to moving the ache from one place to another. Just ensure you're avoiding the worst (places, situations, people), make the conditions right for things to be good, make a few things that you like, keep learning about stuff, acknowledge that death will be coming but it's OK.
Sigh 😞
I shoot for peace. It has more staying power.
I love this article. There is no happiness in a culture that treats us as prey.