What Economic Crisis?

It seems that more and more American families are falling through the cracks, economically speaking. As a society we tend to live from paycheck-to-paycheck, trusting or assuming that things will stay the same as they always have been or improve. Then, as soon as things get worse (i.e. more expensive) we suddenly feel the pinch.As an American who lives in Africa, I find it difficult to empathize with those who complain that they cannot afford to buy new clothes, pay for an evening out, or go on vacation. Our society has become so materialistic and consumer driven that I believe we have lost sight of how truly fortunate we are.

Where I live there are no malls or parks. Children don't automatically get public school educations, and only those who are truly wealthy can ever imagine attending college. My neighbors live in houses made of mud that wash away during the rainy season, and have to be rebuilt each year. They have no indoor plumbing or electricity. They don't even have kitchens. They wash their clothes in the river and cook their food on a little charcoal burner. They eat the same millet-based meals day in and day out.

Yes, I know that many Americans are saddled with debt and can't afford basic health care. But I want you to know this - you can't imagine how lucky you are to live in a nation where the tap water doesn't make you sick, where the roads are paved, where you can vote.

I believe that Americans are conditioned as a society to believe that "more is better" . We have been brainwashed into thinking that we can buy happiness, and that if we cannot afford certain things, then we cannot be happy.

We need to get a grip. We need to downsize and to live within our means. We need to put a little aside for emergencies. And we need to know that no matter how we seem to have it, we are really, truly very fortunate compared to much of the rest of the world.