The Problem With Prosperity

 "Prosperity: The condition of being successful or thriving; especially: economic wellbeing." -Merriam-Webster dictionary

This can go one of two ways:

1. Huh? What's wrong with doing well for myself?
2. Yeah, actually there are MANY problems with prosperity!

Let us examine both of these mental paths.

What IS wrong with prosperity? 

From a very young age most of us are told that we need to make the right choices, and work hard so that we can make a life for ourselves. We are trained to focus on various topics, many of which we find boring, several hours a day through compulsory "education." (Can you smell my bias yet?) We are told that some pursuits are less economically viable than others, "You can't go to college for art! You'll never get a job. How about computer science?!" Yeah... cause that bubble will never burst.

We are surrounded by people who are getting new phones, new cars, buying a different house every 3-5 years, shopping for the latest fashions, filling the living room with piles of presents each December. And we see it all. On Facebook, twitter, instagram, vine and a whole bunch of other social media outlets I know nothing about... myspace? 

Everyone around is doing so well... we need to do better too. We have to buy all organic, enroll our children in a multitude of activities, send them to summer camps, take their soccer team out for ice cream after each game, rent out that bounce house place for all the kids in their class for each birthday, buy new shoes constantly, and keep the labels on the clothes and accessories fresh. Our kids need phones and tablets and game systems so that our house is the "fun" house.

We have to go out to eat with our family, coworkers, friends, neighbors, children's friend's parents... We need to go on cruises and to epic theme parks and far away places and share all those photos so everyone can see that we did it! That we are PROSPEROUS!

And all of this takes one very important thing.

Money.

The reason prosperity is a problem is because being prosperous is an elusive goal.

Having money often makes us want to have more money. Each year we hope for a raise or a bonus or a new job with more upward mobility.

What's wrong with economic success? It breeds a ceaseless pursuit for more.

And yet more money isn't necessarily going to improve our lives.

Almost two years ago I lost my job. A job where I was making VERY good money. And now I make a very modest income. I could make more money. But when I remember the stress, anguish and overall discontent that accompanied my previous occupation I realize how much happier I am with less.

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Next question. How can there be just ONE problem with prosperity? I mean, look at those lists at the top of the page. The numerous things we do in the hunt for prosperity. It seems like the list of problems with prosperity should be as endless.

Note: I am a citizen of The United States of America. And as such my examples reflect typical experiences of a citizen of my country. I am aware that in other places life is quite different and many of these issues won't apply. Context is important, and I want you to know mine.

I can have pretty much any food item I want, at any time of day, for a low, low price! In the dead of the winter I can have my pick of amazingly beautiful fresh produce from all around the world. In the middle of the night numerous restaurants are open and many deliver! There is even a place a few blocks away from my home that will deliver warm cookies until 3am!

So, what's wrong with this? Easy access to food is good right? At least we aren't starving! Micronutrient deficiency means that even though we are eating a lot of calories, many of us are missing important nutrients. So while many Americans may be well fed, they are also undernourished. We have so many foods to choose from, making the decision to eat the right foods (Which is different for each person) often quite difficult.

I can go to any story and buy a ton of really neat stuff for very little money. There are sale racks year around, the dollar bin, the dollar STORE, membership discounts, rewards points etc. All of these mechanisms make it easier and easier to bring more stuff into my home. 

Yet with more stuff each thing has less value. Or maybe that's just how I see it. I only have enough space in my head to care about a finite number of things. Think about Little House on the Prairie... when Laura and Mary were so excited to get their own tin cups for Christmas. These people had so little, that something we think so little about, was so important to them.

I'm not saying we would all be happier if we lived in an empty cabin in the middle of nowhere dreaming about cups. But the alternative we have created where we watch people de-hoard their house for entertainment is also not ideal.

And it's not just hoarding stuff that is so easy and dangerous. Many people also hoard money. They hoard it while they look for the next great investment opportunity. Because making money become MORE money is the most important thing. (so much sarcasm there fyi)

So. Those are all pretty awful. But this blogger says she has identified THE problem with prosperity. So what, from her dirty-hippie-love-everyone-we-can-do-this-if-we-work-together perspective is THE problem?

The problem is, that with prosperity comes distance.

Most of us lucky enough to be born to the "right" situation are so out of touch with those who are born to the rockiest of situations. We blame children and families for their economic and educational stagnation. We credit our successes to our own will and grit. All the time ignoring the power that comes from who gave birth to us.

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I see a world where we work together to build a home for all of us. Where we reach out and help each other when luck kicks us in the face. Where we realize that working for just our own prosperity is working against the prosperity of us.

Imagine a sports team where only three of the 20 players are allowed to practice. What happens at game time? That team loses. But the team that includes all of the players in all of the drills as equally as each individual player's abilities will allow... That team will win. Everyone on that team will win.

Roc City Roller Derby, my league, winning!