My Take on "Downsizing in and Upsized World"

I am all for "Downsizing in an Upsized World". The country is in the middle of an obesity epidemic. We see the evidence on tv with shows such as " Biggest Loser" and "Honey We're Killing the Kids" and even a movie called "Supersize Me". These shows delve into the mindest that most Americans suffer from on a daily basis. Fast food is literally killing us and our children. One day I feel that the fast food industry will be much more regulated, unfortunately it may be too late when that occurs. The government will eventually step in and regulate the fast food industry to help control the obesity epidemic. Our nation is privelaged with technology, advanced medicine, and education. Yet, we are the country with the highest obesity rates, cancer, and other diseases related to poor choices and overindulgence. We live in an overprocessed, high fat, high sodium, trans fat, fake this and fake that. Convenience is litterally killing us. We have a choice to make. Keep dying or start living.

I remember having meals at home when I was little with my mom, sister, and my dad. I would look forward to the time we were able to spend together at the table. Mom always cooked a great meal. We were all more than happy to sit down and eat a meal together. Mom's home cooking is the best! No fast food restaurant can compare to her fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans. The house would be filled with the sound of clanking pans, and the wonderful aroma of a home cooked meal. Not only was the food great, but the price was right. All she asked in return was an enjoyable dinner and maybe for us kids to do the dishes. We didn't even have to leave a tip! However, a compliment was a nice gesture and she would appreciate it. Dinner time once was a time when people could get together without the television and just enjoy each other's company. Now we take our plates to the tv room and have very little conversation with each other. Or we simply order a pizza or grab drive through on the way home from work. These scenarios promote very detatched relationships with those around us.

We have established that convenience has overriden the foundation of American family values. So, what about transportation? Did we simplify or complicate? Technology has definitely advanced since the beginning of the automobile. The author of "downsizing in an upsized world" was 100 % correct about the SUV trend. The SUV's are ridiculous on gas! With gas prices at over 2.00 a gallon you will spend 50-60 dollars a week to fill up a tank. The Humvee's get a whopping 8-12 miles a gallon on the largest model. This particular model can cost more than a house! We aren't driving for the military through sea and land. We live in mostly suburban areas, so what need does this suffice? Instead, you could have driven a compact car that was fuel efficient and environmentally sound. Your tank would cost about 30 dollars to fill up and you could go even farther by the gallon. The more fuel effecient cars are much more environment friendly . This does open up another great point. Downsizing to save the world we live in so our children can live in a healthy world, what a concept! Focusing on need versus want can be one step to downsizing in an upsized world.

We live in a world that is all about the "upgrade". Commercials widely advertise this mentality and feed the need for better things. Society is fast pased, but what are we racing for? We wish the best years of our lives away, and suddenly we are old and in horrible health. Not only that but we have very little savings and no retirement money. All of this can be attributed to our desire to have more , do more, become more, and the fact that we are never truly happy in our current state. Our families fall apart and go to the wayside. Jimmy lives in Californina, Susie in New York and we see each other only once a year. Family values are broken and scarred because we chased materialism. Sometimes we think we know what is best for our kids, but we set an example that proves otherwise. The worst thing about all of it , is that we teach our childern to do the same. While we are trying to fill a cup that can never be filled, we are left wanting and empty.

Everyone is upscaling these days. From big houses, to fancy cars, to boats and motorcycles, expensive watches, jewlrey and extravagant vacations. What are we doing this for? Trying to keep up with the Jonse's is killing our pocketbook and our pride. Mountains of debt cannot rationalize the need for a bigger house, nicer car, or prettier front lawn. Marriages are often ended due to financial problems and the pressures of being more than a provider. I personally would rather live in a small house that was paid off and have some money in the bank than to stress about how I am going to pay my mortgage. I am the first in line of my friends to cut up every credit card I own. I am 26 and I have an IRA. I wish I would have started it sooner! Five years ago would have been great. Time is not on our side when it comes to retirement. It is working against us, if we start too late. Downsizing is about minimizing as well. Minimize debt=simplify your life. A good source to read about minimizing debt is Dave Ramsey. He is a well known author and motivational speaker that travels around the country. The book "Total Money Makeover" helped get me mentally prepared to change my mindset to be geared for downsizing in an upsized world.

I am all for downsizing in an upsized world. I want to take my life slowly so that I can appreciate the time that I have here on this earth. I could care less to eat fast food. I often even feel guilty after eating at McDonalds or any other fast food restaurant. I would much rather prefer a meal with my family that was cooked with my own hands and that my family will appreciate. I enjoy talking to my husband about his day and to my little one about what he did with his trains or what movies he watched. I miss the time I had with my mom and my sister. I wish I could go back and spend more time with them. But, life doesn't work that way. Now our only meals together consist of I have to make the best of the time I have now. We all juggle our time with work, school, church, volunteering, sports, and other activities. It is important to take what little time we do have with our families and make the best of it. Time is a gift that we often take for granted. No amount of money can purchase a day with a lost loved one or a memory. The idea of downsizing helps us to focus on the here and now and what is most important to us while at the same time it helps us to plan for a better, healthier future.

You have a choice. You can live fast and die young, or live your life simply and leave a legacy. Live in good health, exercise, make your meals at home. Talk to your children, teach them good family values and show them how to live a full life. It is the simple things that fill our cups the most. There is a saying that goes, "You can't take it with you". It is very true. But, you can leave lasting memories for your family and create a bond that cannot be broken. The current trends in society need to change. This generation needs to take control and rock the boat by making better decisions. We live in a nation of overindulgence, materialism, and vanity. It is killing us, our children, and any hope for future generations. There are countries that are starving, and malnutritioned and they have no choice. We are privelaged and can make a choice. The decision is up to us. When we realize that we can live fuller lives by keeping life simple, we will be much better off.

The most important thing about the article "Downsizing in and Upsized World" for me was that it was a real eye opener. We all fall into the same traps. Peer pressure, pressure from the media, and even the pressure we put on ourselves allows us to fall easily into the upsized mentality. Life is too short to live it for other people. We need to get focused on what is really important to us. The best way to make the most of our time is to realize that it is the simple things in life that are most soul-fulfilling. Our families deserve the best from us. We can all be good examples to our children and pass on values to them that they can teach their own children. Maybe one day the "supersize" and "upsized" mentality will be gone forever.