The Materialism of Anti-Materialism
I’m beginning to really dislike those “get organized” and “how much can I get for my stuff?” television programs that seemingly every cable channel has their own version of these days.
They seem to have the mentality of getting rid of stuff, letting go of sentimental attachments to things and such so that you can be a happier, better organized person and buy different stuff!
It’s just so disgusting sometimes. Like the family who sold off some of their grandmother’s furniture and used the proceeds to buy a plasma TV.
Now, I’m not one of these anti-television people. I watch TV. Probably too much. And, a plasma TV probably would be nice. But, I cannot fathom getting rid of family heirlooms to do it.
A desk, a table and so on… These are things that, if well-taken care of, are something that can be passed on to succeeding generations.
That plasma TV will probably be sitting out at the curb in five to ten years, broken or replaced by the next new thing. And, what do you have? Memories of having watched TV shows?
Whereas with that desk or table or whatever, each time you use it, you have that connection to generations past. Plus, if you think about it, you also have a connection to future generations who would use that item after you and your family!
It’s like a part of living history. You can look at old family photos, and see previous generations sitting at the same table you’re now sitting at with your kids. And, maybe one day they’ll show pictures of you and them sitting at that same table to their children, as they gather round the same table!
Maybe I was born in the wrong time or something, because people don’t seem to be that way anymore. They see family heirlooms and they don’t see something to be passed down and shared for generations. Instead, they see dollar signs.
Or, worse yet, they won’t see enough dollar signs, and, if the item doesn’t have enough monetary value, off to the curb it goes. Or a garage sale. Or Ebay.
They get a few bucks and lose generations of memories. But, they don’t care. It’s all to get their “fix.” They’ll swap out family memories for a new TV. Or to redecorate their living room. Something timeless for something timely; something they’ll be replacing again in a few years.
Family heirlooms don’t have to be monetarily valuable to be valuable. They just need to be passed on and on.
Not all values can be expressed in monetary terms.
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