Monday, July 12, 2010

Comparisons

.
.
Are something we do every day
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All the time
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Without even thinking
.
Is this cup bigger than mine?
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Is it more colourful?
.
Is it more practical?
.
Is it taller?
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Shorter?
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Do I prefer the material it is made of?
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Not really conscious yet we do this with everything
.
It is easier though to do this with things, material things that is
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Harder with events
.
Activities
.
Ever wondered why holidays or vacations are so special?
.
More so than that new car you bought
.
Basically it is because  the satisfaction we get from holidays lasts along with the memories we collected
.
It can even get better over time as our memories embellish the recollections
.
Meanwhile the buzz we may get from buying a new car or gadget fades quickly.
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The difference is that experiences bring us greater happiness because they are more individual and harder for us to compare with other people's.
.
In comparison, the gloss is often taken off shiny, new purchases when we see newer, better models owned by other people
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Somebody has a more expensive one
.
The super luxury model maybe
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Conversely our experiences are inherently less comparative
.
My holiday was mine and the memories collected are shaped and held by me
.
Any holiday you had was yours and it might sound to have been better than mine however my memories cannot be disturbed by your praise of your own holiday
.
On the other hand if I buy a Fiat 500cc car and I see your new Bentley Continental that might well make me feel disappointed and annoyed, maybe jealous
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The comparisons are social status and money in the one example, the car
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While in the other, the holiday the comparison is composed of memories -  yours and mine
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So if you don't want to feel bad let go of trying to compete with money objects
.
Because there will always be someone with a newer better version
.
And even if there is not the manufacturer will for sure make your TV, car whatever obsolete as soon as he can in order to get you to buy his newer model
.
Focus on enjoying each day and be happy for the clowns who need to keep buying things
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...........because they can never win as there will always be more to buy
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While your memories of holidays and the like are forever

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