We want more!

As I sit down to write this, I keep thinking of the AT&T commercial made popular by the cute kids yelling we want more! More is better. More money, more house, more car, more friendships, more clothes, more shoes, more fun.... sure that sounds harmless enough. But while we are hoping, waiting for more, could we be missing out on enjoying the "Less" we have? Could what we have even be "Less" at all?

Growing up to my two parents who came from Colombia to this country looking for "More", they were very careful in letting us know that although we should do all we could do to pursue a better lifestyle, we should be thankful and appreciative of what we have in the present moment. As we raise our kids, this is something we try to instill in them. MORE stuff will not always mean MORE LIFE, or MORE JOY, or MORE PEACE.

The music and movies and even celebrities.... that have saturated our everyday TV, magazines and headlines are living the lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Everyone is trying to Keep Up with the Kardashians, who have a whole lot more than the Joneses ever did. Everybody is working hard, not only to survive and pay their bills, but are picking up extra jobs or working longer to have MORE. More money, more vacations, more activities, more clothes, more STUFF. 

I once heard: "There is a fine line between ambition and contentment". Yet from the observations I make daily, it seems ambition and greed take over more often than being content and enjoying what we have. I have seen too many people work long hours, or more than one job not to survive but to be able to have more. Parents slaving away to provide more opportunities for their kids in technology and new gadgets, or classes and sports yet spending less and less time together. People spending more money on their appearance by extreme measures such as surgeries, or buying the latest Name Brand fashions when it comes to clothes, jewelry, shoes, and purses, yet being less happy with themselves. People spending more time in college trying to acquire more titles,more degrees, yet having less time to create a family and finding someone to spend it with. And for some they get that career, and work more and more to keep up the lifestyle they always envisioned but never have the time to enjoy the fruit of their labor.

There is nothing wrong with having nice things, and a career, and a big house. That's the American Dream! But don't get lost in the pursuing of those things, and not enjoy what you have Now. Make sure you realize your true treasure is the time you will never get back, and those loved ones you need to be spending it on. Realize that no matter how much you acquire in your lifetime, things will never love you back or bring you peace and joy. Because there may be some truth in the words of Diddy and Biggie: The more money we come across, the more problems we see. Real wealth comes from the richness that is found in the appreciating the small things in life.