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It is difficult to imagine a world where food isn’t simply bought at a local grocery store, and news from around the
world is spread in a matter of seconds; Where transportation relied solely on the abilities of the transported and an entire
society of individuals live in what I like to describe as
cooperative-coexistence. In these days, in present days, where basic essential
needs are considered no more then common tasks and useless material possessions
are valued so greatly, as to inspire homicide and suicide rates that match birth
rates. Thus, the question posed, what gives us more pleasure, the pursuit of our
desires or the attainment of them?
Society has become a place where the dollar is king and the gem is status.
For example, many people would notice an elegantly dressed woman of mid twenties
wearing a ring the consisted of a 3-carat diamond held tightly by a platinum
band, and estimate that the woman was wealthy. Thus, upon having this general
acceptance of having wealth, the woman is admired, but she is admired in a way
where no one will ask for her autograph, no one will request that a picture be
taken with the woman, and especially no one will stare for an unnatural length
of time at the woman. Her admiration is such in a sense that she will receive
many more smiles and more excited gestures as well as she would have much less
difficulty finding someone to valet park her car.
Meanwhile are those who look upon material possessions as simply one form of
living, one type of lifestyle. These are the people who would rather repair a
car and see another satisfied customer then dine at the most exquisite
restaurant in town, paying 1% annual salary to consume a steak that just as
easily could have been cooked at home, and have tasted the same. These people
are those who value the pursuit of happiness by accomplishing goals, and truly
succeeding in life, rather then relying on conditional factors, such as physical
appearance, to determine their future. In my opinion, these are the most
important people to this society, balancing misery with happiness.
Of course, however, there are many aspects of the second lifestyle mentioned
above that those who obtain the first lifestyle would look down upon as
negative, or insufficient. It is very probable that those who follow their
dreams aren’t able to afford a 14oz steak served with a delicate sautéed-onion
sauce and a side of buttered-steamed vegetables with a glass of exotic white
–wine. But one must consider ALL the aspects of this lifestyle before bringing
out all the negatives, not to mention, determining what exactly is negative, and
what is just a false sense of happiness. In my own opinion, coming home happy
and feeling satisfied every single night, or at least the majority of the
nights, is easily viewable as happiness, whereas those who swim in seas of
printed-cotton find themselves taking medications for stress and often enacting
marital divorce.
My main point is simple; people are finding more pleasure in the attainment
of their material desires, rather then the pursuit of their own happiness. My
belief is that society has given s much attention to those who are wealthy and
those who can afford the most rare sports cars. People are almost conditioned
during their lifetimes to admire those they will never quest to be. I believe
this to be the cause of a social civilization where the rich become richer and
the poor become extinct. I strongly urge that people understand that to be
happy, is to pursue their dreams.
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