Do we simply have too much "stuff" to be happy?

It seems to me that the marketers (holds up finger in quotes signs) sole mandate is to make us believe that in order to be happy, we need to buy more stuff.  I think that is one of the biggest oxymorons ever.   I’ll prove my point, I promise. I know you are dying to see this.  No?  Okay, then humor me out of the kindness of your heart?  I have been known to make a fool of myself.  Frequently.  It might be entertaining.

Remember the expression, “You can’t buy happiness”.  I am not sure of the original source, but I am going to assume it’s been around longer than the 25 (ahem, okay, 35) years I’ve been around.  Has something changed that renders this statement now untrue?

How about the expression, “Less is more”?  Has this suddenly gone the way of bell bottoms and hipsters (can I get an amen for the demise of those fashion trends)?

I really and truly think that our society has gone slightly astray with the whole idea of more stuff being akin to more happiness.  Not everyone agrees that our planet is in crisis, that the climate is changing, that we need to change our ways, but I dare anyone to drive by a garbage dump (“waste management” site if you want to be politically correct – however since when does piling trash up into a giant mountain qualify as management?) and not question our overconsumptious ways (it’s a word, in my head anyway, I am working on that with my therapist).

We all suffer from it.  You can’t hide from it.  You all know what I am talking about.  You have storage space under the stairs that may contain Elvis' remains from 1977.  You can’t really be sure, since it’s so packed with stuff,. Or maybe it’s a room in your basement, or maybe it’s your entire basement.  The thought of organizing it, or going through to purge what is unnecessary sends you into heart palpitations and instead of tackling the daunting task, you settle for a good book and a glass of vodka on the rocks.  Or is it just me?

I direct your attention to the photo above.  Does this make us happier?  To avoid this, could we maybe, I don’t know, not buy so much “stuff?

I think I might be on to something here.  As soon as I can mend my shopaholic ways, I’ll let you know how it works out.  Until then, I then I bid you bottoms up *clinks glass of vodka with you*.

Original post to Canada Moms Blog.  Kami also tlaments about her Mother Earth conscience, among other things at Kami's Khlopchyk