Not to many families are going about their daily lives operating under the "business as usual" scenario these days.
We're all feeling the impact of the current economic conditions.
Whether that is mortgage payments, college tuition or providing dinner on the table.
As we struggle to maintain a lifestyle we've become accustomed to, maybe we need to take a moment and view this from a possessions perspective.
The thoughts I am about to share will probably not be well received by some individuals.
However; there may be something we need to be taking away from these economic times.
Struggling to make ends meet is never a pleasant experience, but some of the pressure may be of our own making.
We begin with the history of the Great Depression.
The stories that are shared about that era can be very humbling to an individual hearing them.
During those years, personal entitlement and immediate gratification were not behaviors that could afford to be tolerated in families.
The survival of the family meant every able body did their part.
Grandparents talked about trading bags of flour and sugar for gas coupons.
They traded livestock to maintain a variety of meat options.
If somebody needed an item they didn't have the money to purchase, a barter took place and the deal was sealed with a hand shake.
In those days a hand shake was gospel and as good as any written legal document today.
The integrity of the individuals involved kept everyday life flowing.
With that being said, it brings us to this thought.
In families today, do we really know the difference between luxury and necessity? That determination can only be made by the individuals involved of course, but, if it's a painful experience each month to sustain ownership of an item, then it most likely does not fall under the classification of necessity.
Keep in mind we're not reviewing the need for houses.
Houses and homes are two different items and I'll clarify that thought.
Houses are structures made of wood or brick or material of choice.
Homes are structures that have a history.
Places families spend time together.
A home provides shelter from the weather.
We only need what creates a safe and comfortable home environment for our families.
During The Great Depression many families shared one home.
Vehicles were purchased for a function, not for status gratification by means of name brand.
Again, many times vehicles were shared.
Trips to town for groceries were a neighborhood affair and gardening was not only a hobby.
Gardening served a very important function.
A garden supplied food for the entire family throughout the year and provided the family with bartering items.
Today we are seeing a return to some of these practices, such as community gardens being planted in areas of cities that allow many families to work together for a purpose.
It is the challenges of our times and the slow return to neighbors helping neighbors that may play a part in our generation learning the difference between necessity and luxury as did the generations before us.