We have so many conveniences and comforts now-a-days, compared to people in years past, that we, as a society on the whole, often delude ourselves into thinking that ‘such and such’ is a need when really it is a want.
Let's look at what we have that are conveniences now that we may need to decide if they are wants or needs:
- Each child has his/her own room?
- Designer (or new) clothes/shoes?
- The up-to-date fashion?
- Meat at every meal?
- Three meals a day?
- A remote control?
- A TV, Computer or Cell Phone?
- Over 199 channels to choose from?
- A plasma TV?
- Central Air Conditioning?
- Two income household?
- A car for each driver in the house?
- Fast Food?
- Pre-made boxed foods, sliced veggies in the store?
Where do I draw my dividing line between want and need? I'd like to say I don't need ANY of the list above....but the line gets blurry at times. Doesn't it for you? Truthfully most (if not all) of the above items are newly acquired 'needs' of the last 50 years. Did my parents make it fine without them? Well, yes, they did. Did their parents do fine with even less? I dare say they may have even been better-off than we are in many ways.
Frankly, I almost want the clarity of a massive financial collapse that will force me to having to choose only to meet my needs over being confused that my wants are needed. A good financial crunch might put the want/need dilemma into perspective for some of us. Other people may think that it's the end of the world as they know it. Well, if it is, the end of the world as we know it then I'll feel fine.
If that were to happen, I could draw the line.
The line is then drawn at: Food (any), Water (prefer clean), Shelter (any), Clothes (any) and Relationships (Love, trust, comrades).
Aside from the Spiritual needs, that short list is the end of all physical needs on earth.
A want is not in the picture when you have to focus on the need only. Learning to decipher between want and need, when you have choices... is the discipline.
Donna Miller is an author, teacher and entrepreneur. Her favorite roles are that of wife and mother to three home-school graduates. The Millers own and operate Millers Grain House which offers Organic and Chemical-free Whole Grains, Bosch Mixers, the NutriMill, instructional tutorials, recipes and more.
