In today’s society, a place full of envy and materialism, people are brought up to think that the way to find happiness is through acquiring the latest object that society has deemed “cool”. One is hard pressed to find somebody who does not or has not fallen victim to this cycle of buying and adapting to the purchased materialistic things in hopes of fulfillment. I myself am also included on this very same list (unfortunately). A stand out example of an item that I could have sworn would bring me happiness in the long run, but soon after purchasing it I adapted, is my Fossil brand cross-body bag. Before this class I knew that buying the hottest gadget would not bring me bliss or complete happiness, but I didn’t really know why. Now I know that happiness does not come from things, it comes from experiences.
My tan leather Fossil bag, the “it” bag, brought me happiness, but only temporarily. This past spring season was the emergence of the cross body bag trend, and everyone had one. But I didn’t just want to get the standard $30 Forever 21 bag with faux leather, I wanted to out do my friends. I wanted to purchase the slick Fossil bag that I have been eye balling in magazines for weeks. Unfortunately the bag was pretty expensive, and I knew that it would be foolish to spend my hard earned money on a bag that would probably be out of style come next year, but I did it anyway. I went into my room, grabbed my latest pay check, filled out my bank form, and begged my mom to drive me to the bank so that I could cash it in time for my scheduled shopping trip that coming weekend. After counting down the hours until I would finally be holding my prized bag in my own two hands, the day, at last, arrived. I headed right towards the bag section in the nearest Fossil store, scanned the displays, picked up the bag that I have been craving, and power walked to the check out line. In the three minutes that I spent waiting until it was my turn to purchase the bag, I began having second thoughts. I knew that it was stupid to waste a large amount of money on a bag, especially since I was spending my own money that I acquired through working long shifts at Wards Berry Farm, but somehow I convinced myself that this bag would be different. This bag was perfect in every way, and there would never come a day when it would be out of style. So, shaking off my worries, I handed the bag and my money over to the check out lady, and after it was successfully rung up I immediately changed over all of my belongings from my old bag into my new one.
As I walked out of the store with the Fossil bag across my shoulder, I couldn’t have felt any better. People were looking at the bag, and then at me, in an approving way. A smile spread across my face and didn’t go away for the rest of the shopping experience- I was confident, at last, that I had made the right decision. Fortunately, my happiness that I received from wearing and purchasing the bag lasted a while. Every time that I wore it, I would become overwhelmed with bliss as I saw the envious glances people gave me. But then eventually, the feeling went away. I would say that the happiness stopped after wearing the bag for the rest of the season, because by that point everybody owned a cross body bag. My bag was not anything special anymore, and therefore was no longer a source of happiness. What started as a prized possession, the bag eventually was added to the growing heap of other “must have” purses that took hold in the bottom of my closet.
I think that the Fossil bag was special to me and brought me happiness for a longer time compared to other items that I own because I bought it with my own money. So, not only was I happy every time I wore it because I made people around me jealous and I fit in with the “in” trend, I was also happy because every time I wore it, I was reminded of all the hard work that was spent into saving up enough money to buy it.
After learning about how items and things never bring true, lasting happiness I think that a better purchase I could have made with all of my hard earned money could have been a donation or a gift to somebody who needed it. Instead of spending all of my money on that over priced bag, I could have just bought the $30 Forever 21 bag, and spent the rest buying toys or clothes for the local Toys for Tots or Cradles to Crayons foundations. That way every time I would go into the mall or the store from which I purchased my donations, I would be happily reminded of the faces of the people in need who received my donations, bringing me more lasting happiness than a silly bag could ever bring.
Happiness, true happiness that is, comes from helping others and experiences, not from things or items. Although I was convinced that my Fossil bag would be different, and that I would be happy every time I wear it, I was not. Next time I go shopping for something, I will be more aware of this, and purchase things for other people, and not just for myself.
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