Deep Thoughts on Money and Happiness

bobcat

bobcat

Well-known Member
Location
Northern Calif
I was recently reading that more than 1 in 6 people currently suffer from depression in America with the highest rate among teens, and rates are rising. Given that America is one of the most affluent countries in the world, how is it that so many living here are depressed.

Are we living proof that money can't buy happiness? Are people feeling more isolated? Are we exposed to way too much negativity? Is our expectation of life not matching reality? It seems that prior generations had a lot tougher life than those living today. Were they just able to endure dealing with hardships better than today's generation? What can be done?
 

bobcat48 said:
I was recently reading that more than 1 in 6 people currently suffer from depression in America with the highest rate among teens, and rates are rising. Given that America is one of the most affluent countries in the world, how is it that so many living here are depressed. Are we living proof that money can't buy happiness? Are people feeling more isolated? Are we exposed to way too much negativity? Is our expectation of life not matching reality? It seems that prior generations had a lot tougher life than those living today. Were they just able to endure dealing with hardships better than today's generation? What can be done?
Click to expand...
I'd be depressed as well if I had to live in certain parts of the USA where crime is endemic and guns and killings are rife...
 
There is a sadness now in the atmosphere of the earth.
Some can for a time, pretend they don't feel it permeating
the earth but in a moment of repose, it can be felt.
Some with empathy, compassion, tenderness of the soul
can feel this more readily.
I don't know what it is; as it's neither matter nor energy
rather waves of thought sent from men's minds.
It's so important we, as a species, send the highest
quality thought into the atmosphere.
This will affect the whole world in a positive way.
 
falimy structures and links have changed/disappeared - larger families have disappeared and given way to smaller ones - I remember 10 aunts/uncles within close proximity - many cousins - this gave me strong social structures and security. I bemoan the advent of the nuclear family replacing the extended one - smaller family units disengage from larger families and move away often far distances ??
 
bobcat48 said:
I was recently reading that more than 1 in 6 people currently suffer from depression in America with the highest rate among teens, and rates are rising. Given that America is one of the most affluent countries in the world, how is it that so many living here are depressed. Are we living proof that money can't buy happiness? Are people feeling more isolated? Are we exposed to way too much negativity? Is our expectation of life not matching reality? It seems that prior generations had a lot tougher life than those living today. Were they just able to endure dealing with hardships better than today's generation? What can be done?
Click to expand...
YES to everything you just said.
We are paying the consequences of excess. Too much of anything and everything creates a society of spoiled people. Itā€™s just an opinionšŸ„ŗ
 
Well
PeppermintPatty said:
YES to everything you just said.
We are paying the consequences of excess. Too much of anything and everything creates a society of spoiled people. Itā€™s just an opinionšŸ„ŗ
Click to expand...
Well said Patty. It seems we are living in a materialistic society where many know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Real reality has been traded for virtual reality, and delayed gratification (The Road Less Traveled) is almost non-existent. I wish I could be more hopeful about the future, but it seems things would really have to change dramatically.
 
bobcat48 said:
Well

Well said Patty. It seems we are living in a materialistic society where many know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Real reality has been traded for virtual reality, and delayed gratification (The Road Less Traveled) is almost non-existent. I wish I could be more hopeful about the future, but it seems things would really have to change dramatically.
Click to expand...
Our grand world that seemed so exciting to explore seems to have lost much of itā€™s appeal, mainly due to modern technology. We know too much, too soon, too fast and have more reason to judge and compare each other. We sacrificed all our natural raw materials for superficial chaos. On a global level, weā€™ve lost our moral compass.
 
About the youth, They are growing up in a world with no foundation, no structure.
Yes, Too much, too fast but who can they now trust?
It's a "gimmy, gimmy, I want! I want! society.
They are taught things in school they can't accept because they have a sense of right
and wrong deep inside. They are in a state of confusion. Wars hang in their future.
They are only lied to by their government. Role models don't exist.
The media conditions them to what they should and should not accept and believe.
The sadness and depression won't stop until we go in an opposite direction and
individually expand our consciousness. Tis sad.
 
PeppermintPatty said:
Our grand world that seemed so exciting to explore seems to have lost much of itā€™s appeal, mainly due to modern technology. We know too much, too soon, too fast and have more reason to judge and compare each other. We sacrificed all our natural raw materials for superficial chaos. On a global level, weā€™ve lost our moral compass.
Click to expand...
I have come to realize over time that learning to be content is probably the greatest achievement in life. It is not easy to divorce yourself from want, as I believe it is just human nature to want more than we have. But for those who can let go of that want, they can find peace, contentment and even joy just learning to value the simple things in life. Just watching the sun come up while sipping a cup of coffee, or going for a walk in nature, or enjoying a little music. It doesn't have to be over the top like going to prom in a limo, or weddings that cost 30 to 50 thousand dollars. Everything is blown out of proportion and your expectation of life is doomed to crash.
 
Gaer said:
About the youth, They are growing up in a world with no foundation, no structure.
Yes, Too much, too fast but who can they now trust?
It's a "gimmy, gimmy, I want! I want! society.
They are taught things in school they can't accept because they have a sense of right
and wrong deep inside. They are in a state of confusion. Wars hang in their future.
They are only lied to by their government. Role models don't exist.
The media conditions them to what they should and should not accept and believe.
The sadness and depression won't stop until we go in an opposite direction and
individually expand our consciousness. Tis sad.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your input Gaer. I guess I sometimes view people a coffee cups. You can spend a great deal of money and effort trying to make the outside of the cup more appealing with clothing, jewelry, cosmetics, toned abs, etc..., but if you haven't worked on what's inside the cup, then in the long run, it really doesn't matter. The coffee is bland, and never satisfying.
 
bobcat48 said:
I have come to realize over time that learning to be content is probably the greatest achievement in life. It is not easy to divorce yourself from want, as I believe it is just human nature to want more than we have. But for those who can let go of that want, they can find peace, contentment and even joy just learning to value the simple things in life. Just watching the sun come up while sipping a cup of coffee, or going for a walk in nature, or enjoying a little music. It doesn't have to be over the top like going to prom in a limo, or weddings that cost 30 to 50 thousand dollars. Everything is blown out of proportion and your expectation of life is doomed to crash.
Click to expand...
I totally agree. Sunrises or Sunsets.
Itā€™s the simplest things that bring the greatest joys. For sure. Less is Best quite often.
Feeling like a total hypocrite sharing via modern technology but still joyous occasions., no less.
IMG_6767.jpegIMG_6436.jpegIMG_5404.jpegIMG_5606.jpegIMG_6599.jpeg
 
Since we live in a society that doesn't condone violent or brutal behavior, why do you think that so much of our entertainment is infused with it, such as violent movies, war movies, boxing, wrestling, cage matches, video games, etc... Even in the times of the Romans, they watched it play out in the arena with lions killing people and barbarian fights. It was their entertainment. Even when there is a fight at school, why does everyone flock to watch it? Are we now just closet barbarians? How do we reconcile that aspect of human nature with our desire for a civilized society.
 
bobcat48 said:
I was recently reading that more than 1 in 6 people currently suffer from depression in America with the highest rate among teens, and rates are rising. Given that America is one of the most affluent countries in the world, how is it that so many living here are depressed. Are we living proof that money can't buy happiness? Are people feeling more isolated? Are we exposed to way too much negativity? Is our expectation of life not matching reality? It seems that prior generations had a lot tougher life than those living today. Were they just able to endure dealing with hardships better than today's generation? What can be done?
Click to expand...

The overall figures in the UK are the same, 1 in 6 (16 to 17%)

The Office Of National Statistics & mind.org between them break down UK statistics further:

Age 5 to 16, 1 in 6 (16 to 17%)
Age 16 to 29, (men 22%, women 35%)
Age 30 to 49, (men 14%, women 16%)
Age 50 to 69, (men 14%, women 17%)
Age 70 & over, (men 7%, women 8%)
 
Last edited:
I think Social Media is one of the major reasons. Young girls are on Instagram or TikTok and see other girls that use filters on their faces or try to show how great their lives are and they think, "how can I ever live up to that?" For young guys, if they are on Tinder and are not good-looking and successful the young ladies "swipe left". Almost 70% fit into this category.

Also, more women than men are attending college these days. Women have become very successful and will no longer settle for deadbeat guys. This leaves a huge sector of the young male population with no options. This can easily lead to depression, and to domestic terrorism.

Lastly, I think the pursuit of wealth can lead to depression. There is always someone more wealthy than we are, and if that is all we focus on it we could feel like "less than". I remember when we visited Cambodia a few years ago. It is such a poor country, but the children seemed to be very happy and were playing outside, unlike so many of our children in the US.
 
seadoug said:
I think Social Media is one of the major reasons. Young girls are on Instagram or TikTok and see other girls that use filters on their faces or try to show how great their lives are and they think, "how can I ever live up to that?" For young guys, if they are on Tinder and are not good-looking and successful the young ladies "swipe left". Almost 70% fit into this category.

Also, more women than men are attending college these days. Women have become very successful and will no longer settle for deadbeat guys. This leaves a huge sector of the young male population with no options. This can easily lead to depression, and to domestic terrorism.

Lastly, I think the pursuit of wealth can lead to depression. There is always someone more wealthy than we are, and if that is all we focus on it we could feel like "less than". I remember when we visited Cambodia a few years ago. It is such a poor country, but the children seemed to be very happy and were playing outside, unlike so many of our children in the US.
Click to expand...
Great input and truth. Thanks seadoug.
 
seadoug said:
I've always appreciated your posts, but why do you continue to denigrate the US? First, it was the obesity issue, which is not much better than in the UK. Now it is gun violence. Most of us here know we have an issue with guns, and most of us have voted against it. The UK certainly has its issues. How is your economy these days?

As Magna Carta said, the depression statistics are the same in the UK as they are in the US. This is most likely caused by Social Media, not by gun violence.
Click to expand...
I'm not ';continuing'' to denigrate the US ..what obesity issue ?

Gun violence is a fact that can't be escaped...there's not one country in the world who isn't aware of the gun violence in the USA... it's terrible, even police shooting children..

errrm.. I'm not scared of my economy... that's a ridiculous thing to say.. ... !..it's not going to kill me.. or kill my children in their classroom>>..

ETA...actually I've found the ''Obese thread'' and it was started by you... ..:oops::oops::oops:...I get blamed for a lot of things I haven't done, but this takes the biscuit, someone who starts a thread denigrating his own people, then attacks me for it... *jeez*.. unbelievable!!

https://www.seniorforums.com/threads/americas-fattest-cities-houston-tx.72709/#post-2154489
 
Last edited:
My Father arrived in Australia in 1946, 6 months ahead of Mother and 2 kids. It was a struggle from the beginning, but my father was a Boiler Maker and landed a good job with the railways. He worked 6 days a week and they paid rent and moved often. I have to say I never saw my parents suffer from depression and they were so grateful to be living in the "lucky country". All his friends said he would come swimming back, and when he wrote back to his friends about this beautiful country, they eventually decided to move here. When Mum and Dad wanted to have a
discussion about money problems they always did it behind closed doors. They never discussed money in front of us. A big problem with families today. The children hear and see everything. No wonder they have depression at an early age.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top