"These messages are so consistent with the way we already think, they hardly strike us as propaganda anymore. 'Your kids need more that you're already giving them. You don't want to deprive them of a good, full life. What they need can be purchased with money. And we,' the advertisers promise,' will make it easier for you to provide just the right thing.' "
"We are constantly getting the message that no one should have to live with this horrible state of affairs. No wonder we are becoming less and less tolerant of the little daily problems and imperfections of life. However, advertisers do not create the feeling of 'not enough' in our lives. They are just capitalizing on it, promising to pacify it, and pretending they can."
Mary Ellen Edmunds has a wonderful statement for this propaganda of needing more. She said "You can never have enough of what you don't need because what you don't need, never satisfies." I can never get enough of BBQ potato chips because I don't need them. I can never get enough new and fashionable clothing because I don't need them. I can never get enough money because I don't spend what I already make wisely.
What lessons are we in turn teaching our children? Do they have to work and save up to earn special things or do they just get them at Christmas, for their birthday, or from the grandparents? Do our children see us saving our money and being careful about what we buy?
A fabulous and old book titled Mama's Bank Account tells the story of Norwegian immigrants to San Fransisco in the early 1900's. Each week they would gather as a family to count out what they needed to spend the father's hard earned money on. "This is for the grocer. This is for the shoemaker. This is for Nels' books for high school. Is it enough? Yes! It's enough. We do not have to go to the bank." The whole family was a part of making sure there was enough money. They never had to go the bank to take out their savings because they always made due with what they had, gave up something to save money, or worked a side job to make a little bit more. The eldest daughter wanted to become a writer and she finally sold a story and received a large check of $500. She told her family that she wanted put the money in the bank. The mother and father looked at each other and finally admitted that they didn't have a bank account. They only said that because they didn't want the children to worry when money was so tight. It is such a powerful message! (A fabulous black & white movie version titled I Remember Mama is also highly recommended!). The Waltons TV show is another wonderful example of these ideals.
Our society has gotten away from the truth that we do not need everything we want. We also do not have to have things right now. Patient, hard work, and contentment are virtues pushed aside. "We can never get enough of what we don't need because what we don't need never satisfies." Please share your thoughts with us. How have you been able to combat these issues?
