Yes, I am guilty. I won’t deny the fact that I sometimes buy items because I want them and for no other logical reason. Worst part is sometimes, not all of the time, but a lot of the time, whatever I buy, gets little to no use. What is our fascination with things?
I want to take the poor perspective. I would first like to say that I never had to go without eating because my mom didn’t have any money. I can look back and see that times were hard, but also see how we were blessed because there were times when a bill couldn’t get paid or something broke, but God made a way. By saying “the poor perspective” I mean not being able to have what the world deems to be important such as cars, clothes, etc. You know, the whole western society outlook. Buy, buy big, and buy a lot.
Here is what I find sad and disturbing, if we come into money we get caught up in the material aspect, and do not look at the real picture. Okay, we have all heard money doesn’t make you happy, which is true, it should be about family, friends, relationships, which is also true, but when someone is stressing about money, nobody is trying to hold hands and sing Kumbaya. If you don’t have to worry about money, then you will have less stress in your life, which means you can engage in healthier relationships.
Here is the real picture that we miss. These big dogs, Gates, Rockefeller, Trump, etcetera, did not get all their money and power by purchasing things. See the real picture is investing. “Man, my piece cost me 8 g’s.” Well, congratulations?! Honestly, how often are you actually gonna wear that? I know someone who is happy, that man who has your $8,000, and has flipped to make at least $16,000. Do you see were I’m going? Once again, I buy things, I want things, but we have to be careful that we are not sucked into the trap of continually make other people richer while keeping ourselves down.
Okay, let’s say there is rich dad, plastically altered mom, and 3 kids. When the rich parents die, and the kids get married and have children that makes 11 rich people. Those 2 people created and additional 9 rich people.
If I die and I spent all of my money on stuff, my kids are gonna look at the junk and throw it away. I would have left them with nothing to make themselves, the community or the world better. Want to get out the ghetto and make, stop putting your money into another man’s hands. I don’t give a damn if your shirt has a Polo symbol on it our not, and if you mess with folks who do than you need to rethink their purpose. I am not at all saying not have nice things but, be smart and use moderation. Invest, so your money will grow. Look around your place, your room, your car, there is stuff just sitting there not getting used huh? Those pennies add up. Oh, it’s just $5. But how many times do you have in your house that was just a few dollars. I bet if you do the math you would be sick.
We have the power and ability to get out from where society is trying to put us, we just have to first realize we are on a merry go round going no where. On Erykah Badu’s song On&On she said “I was born under water with 3 dollars and 6 dimes,” we have to stop drowning ourselves and stop turning in circles thinking that we are going somewhere and swim our way to the surface.
