Things On My Mind

Yes, I know I need to write about my little adventures over the past year, but that's not the focus of this post.

But first, while I have your attention, I'd like to introduce you to "The Barefoot" and his blog. Once you read one of his posts, you'll be hooked! He has a sharp, witty (sometimes dark) sense of humor about every day life. Visit the Barefoot - you won't be disappointed!

Earlier this month on NPR, an Army soldier who served in Iraq was being interviewed about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and stated he was quite confident it didn't exist. He said those soldiers who complained of it were making it up and using it to avoid returning to the battle field.

My thoughts? First, if making up a disorder that the military recognizes and gets one outta Hell's path, then let these soldiers claim PTSD. Secondly, I suspect it is an authentic mental illness; something like a seed that's settled deep in those prone to depression. If that person happens to go to war, that seed of depression sprouts, or set off by some other trigger. Any other thoughts? Does PTSD exist?

Also on my mind, CNN ran a special over the weekend titled something like, "One Paycheck Away." Focusing how many Americans live paycheck to paycheck, then asked the question "why?" I didn't stay up late enough to see the reasons, but throwing in my precious two cents, we're a "need it now" and service-orientated society. We are bombarded with must-have things we can't live without.

We women need at least a dozen shoes to get through six months of a year, need a purse to coordinate with each pair of shoes and a six shades of lipstick to pull everything together. The message to "buy" is all around us. We don't buy what we need, we buy what we want.

Look at Christmas. We end up buying things and usually not spending money wisely, just to give "something." Remember in the "old days" when we actually waited for Christmas to receive that special something? These days, what we want, we gotta have it right away - and end up getting more at Christmas.

We also like to be pampered and will pay for the service of convenience- it's amazing what people will pay for these days. At lunch yesterday, a car wash service company was in the office parking lot washing someone's car. It's nice to have conveniences, but they come at a price.

I'm guilty, too. Getting my fix out of life through seeking out one-of-a-kind experiences. If I had enough limit on my credit cards, I'd plop a deposit down to be on Sir Richard Branson's first trip to space.

But why are we like this? Are our lives so empty we need to fill it with "stuff?"

Comments

Anonymous said…
Dark? Who me? Thanks for the plug JA. I'm not really dark. The letters just come out black when I type.
jhuber7672 said…
And it's comments like these! Everyone should be reading the Barefoot :)