Some times this is the best it gets. Often it is not our fault. Often there is nothing we can do about it. This is where the road forks by choice. What you have and don't have only seems a reason to be happy or not. My cell phone was handy but was a source of stress. And I was paying for that. Who was I impressing, everyone can have one. My computer (s) are both tool and communication but that is all. If I found myself using them for more than that they would go out the door. We bought a boat. (and motor and trailer and all the gear including seats) Now that we will have fun with. And it won't be wore out or obsolete in three years. It won't impress my friends except the ones with boats already. Second hand it cost less than my computers. And it is something we can afford, it will outlast the car towing it even. But we would have done without if it was frivolous or if we couldn't afford it. And still be happy. I am ordering an electric cultivator to use between the rows to speed things up so there will be time to fish. (even if we don't catch anything) I can use it in the green houses so it is a justifiable purchase. Less than a good quality cell phone.
Okay if being quiet and watching the birdies or sitting out on a lake isn't your thing this won't impress you. If you need the latest toys but can't afford them you are going to have to find a way to get them or learn to do without. Having lived in both worlds I find doing without is a whole lot easier, for me anyways. More CBT here, changing attitude and thought patterns. More CBT challenging things to see if they are real or imagined. More CBT realizing happy is a state of mind not a thing you buy. More CBT realizing life is like a rose bush, pretty but the thorns need to be avoided.
There is a lot to the saying that the best things in life are free, the rest are necessities. You have to decide how much the necessities are that and how many are just wants.
I'm going to sound like a dooms day preacher. It fits in with the title of the post. The fact of the matter is that it is getting harder to have just the things considered necessary let alone the things we would like. And with the media screaming (ever heard a quiet commercial) we need their product, it is creating stress even in those of us that don't listen. You have to buy their product or they will starve. They don't care if you do. There is a sucker born every day. What have you bought you don't want or don't need or doesn't work right. Yes I guess that makes you one too then. Well you are in good company. Even us dooms day preachers have done that.
So getting back to "getting by". I'm going down the getting by road because it causes less stress even though it doesn't seem it should.
As for tools verses toys, they can be the same with a bit of balancing, I'm having lunch (late) and pounding this out at the same time. Why not, being here is something I like and will find the time to be here as long as It doesn't consume me. Like speaker phone, it lets me work at the same time. And some times the phone is part of my work too.
I'm a cripple, I have to combine mental with physical to get anything done. Part of getting by and still having fun. Part of the CBT attitude that allows this to stay fun. Even through the anger and sadness that crop up and the pain that does it too often.
Getting by isn't as bad as we think. At least it doesn't have to be. And isn't for me. But I come from a world before computers cell phones and plastic that we pay for and throw away. Maybe that makes it easier.
Davit
