I reckon we are very seldom satisfied…these days.
In days gone by we did not know that a tractor and automated plow could take out of our hands (or at least take the effort from the ox) the effort of tilling the land. The tractor and many other farming implements revolutionized farming and made the physical life of the farmer so much easier.
These days we are very seldom satisfied/contented and willing to rough it a bit without the immediate relief of our modern conveniences.
In days gone by who knew that an automated wagon (the car) was on its way? I suppose we needed it as much as we needed the wagon or the cart, but who knew that distances would be shortened so drastically; who knew that the world would become so much smaller; the individual gaining so much freedom.
Humanity needed knowledge, sure, but who could imagine the Internet, with its important social media component.
Who after, using these innovations and many others can go back to a life before them and can settle easily into a life before all these technological inventions?
But, what I am trying to get to is the dissatisfaction with ones lot if you know how someone else lives. Social media like Facebook and Instagram lets us “live with” the lives of the rich and see who the famous mingle with. Granted not all portrayal of lifestyles on social media should be taken at face value, but you can also hardly argue against a trip overseas or a meal at an expensive restaurant – and whether sponsored by someone else, or sponsored by debt - it has taken place and gives many of those who follow the rich and famous on social media the idea that their lives could or should also be like that, and when it does not happen it creates frustration and discontent or, it can lead to negative behaviour such a creating debt to also maintain a semblance of the same type of lifestyle.
We live in a world where we are convinced by everyone from our parents to businesses that we are important; that we are special little princes and princesses with an important voice. That our individual lives matter…
AND IN A CERTAIN SENSE IT IS TRUE:
We are served by our technology;
We are made to feel important by our politicians who need our vote;
We are made the centre of attention when it comes to the marketing strategies of businesses;
We are obsessively protected by the bigger state apparatus (in an ideal world) from crime, and
We are given services such as electricity, and trash removal and the like by the state,
And, as mentioned,
We are made to feel we are the centre of the world by our parents (when this kind of parenting certainly did not take place a hundred years ago).
So, will we ever regain a peaceful mind, a life away from social media? It is doubtful unless we start a luddite-esque lifestyle.
And so society is sitting with more and more people unwilling to accept their lot in life.
I am definitely not talking about those who will be inspired to aspire to greater things, greater heights in life and actually achieve them, no. I am talking about unrealistic expectations, even if you aspire to them, that will never be met.
What we are to do, I am not quite sure.
How do we find contentment in a world that promises everything, but where, in reality you can’t get everything?
- Ambition and hope is not a bad thing. It is not a bad thing to aspire to acquire a house, build a business, drive a fancy car, and make a difference in the world. If, you at least feel that you are on your way, that you are doing things to “get there in the end”, then that hope can be enough to sustain you, even if you might not “make it” entirely.
- Focus on the stuff that you have around you; the stuff you already bought. Unless you are indigent and really own nothing, you certainly have stuff that you can enjoy; stuff that you have bought that brings you joy and that you can use the hell-out-of. Enjoy those things you have bought, but have put away somewhere. We often have ‘riches’ we do not fully use: we recently dusted off a smoothie maker, that is in perfect condition, but hardly used in 10 years! As people living today we have a lot of stuff, much more than anyone in the past (except the rich nobility), we might as well gather them closer and use them, enjoy and share them.
- Aaand then there is the old cliché of actually enjoying life as is…because since you are reading this, you had to have had some schooling and this already makes you lucky. Enjoy the free stuff then, a book, taking a nap after a busy day, enjoy your pet(s), go for a walk.
- Enjoy and appreciate the friends and good acquaintances your have already around you. Enjoy the people that love you and have stuck around by choice, and even take an interest in those that are around by default in your life, because you are actually alive: your work colleagues, the shop assistant and cashier, the small shop owners. They all have stories and life experience – take the time to find out what they are; take the time to get to know them.
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
The Rolling Stones
I can't get no satisfaction, I can't get no satisfaction
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try
I can't get no, I can't get no
When I'm drivin' in my car, and the man come on the radio
He's tellin' me more and more about some useless information
Supposed to fire my imagination
I can't get no, oh, no, no, no, hey, hey, hey
That's what I say
I can't get no satisfaction, I can't get no satisfaction
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try
I can't get no, I can't get no
When I'm watchin' my TV and a man comes on and tells me
How white my shirts can be
But, he can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke
The same cigarettes as me
I can't get no, oh, no, no, no, hey, hey, hey
That's what I say
I can't get no satisfaction, I can't get no girl reaction
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try
I can't get no, I can't get no
When I'm ridin' 'round the world
And I'm doin' this and I'm signin' that
And I'm tryin' to make some girl, who tells me
Baby, better come back maybe next week
Can't you see I'm on a losing streak?
I can't get no, oh, no, no, no, hey, hey, hey
That's what I say, I can't get no, I can't get no
I can't get no satisfaction, no satisfaction
No satisfaction, no satisfaction
I can't get no
Songwriters: Keith Richards / Mick Jagger
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction lyrics © Abkco Music, Inc
So, unlike the lyrics of the Stones…try to get some satisfaction.
Written by Omar Daniel Fourie,
19 / 20 November 2018.
(Picture of my grandmother, 89 - we should appreciate, learn from and enjoy our elders)