This is an article by Gabe Suarez that hits 'dead center'
Quote:
Every so often we see the resurgence of the "hunker down and wait for the nuke to go off" mentality and discussions about focusing on needs begin anew at warriortalk. And I find myself reminding those around me that such an attitude does not become Americans.
Sadly, very few of our countrymen have ever ventured out of the country and do not realize that even the poorest of us has it far better and is far more "successful" than our counterparts around the world.
What separates us is that Americans admire and seek success, we do not envy or scorn it. Life is not doom and gloom. It is beautiful and filled with promise of opportunity and adventure to those who have the mind set to notice.
The Cooper quote below nails it -
"Nobody needs a scout rifle. Nobody needs a Ferrari. Nobody needs a box at the opera. And nobody needs an Aerostar.
The question is not what you need, but rather what you want-and how much do you want it.
In my own view, it is better to own one really good rifle than six or eight approximations. But that is just my view, and people with other opinions are welcome to them. "
I would add that nobody needs a college education at a famous university...nobody needs a nice home on several acres...nobody needs a south seas island vacation.
Today lots of guys talk about need, but that is the wrong forcus to base a life.
All you need is food and shelter, and perhaps a woman.
All other things are arguable. Look at a dog living on the street. His needs are the same as your needs...but that is no life.
America...the REAL America was built on WANT and not NEED. Nobody needed to tame the west or walk on the moon....quite a point of fact...nobody else did.
America is made up of risk taking achievers, and not welfare recipients receiving government checks.
But Americans wanted it...and attained it. When Neil Armstrong wakes up in the morning he doesn't think, "You know....I could have....."
Life is made up of the quality of things and events around us.
Sure, the people we surround ourselves with are a big factor, as is what we pursue for a career, and what we hold as core beliefs. But after that, all of those material things that are eschewed by those who cannot have them make up the rest.
The spacious house will bring more smiles than the tenement apartment. The new camaro will bring more joy to the commute than the used AMC Pacer. The filet mingnon will taste far better than the Big Mac.
And the pursuit of attaining those things is just fine, and quite proper...and well, American. So enjoy your life, your success, and seek more of it American.
When you are 89 years old sitting on that rocking chair you will not be thinking of all the money you saved by eating at BK, vacationing in the parking lot at Wally world, or driving that old car....you will be wishing you had actually lived your life rather than simply having gotten to the finish line without spending a dime.
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