The real reason people want to be rich, or so they often claim, is to have more time in their lives. Whether that time is spent on the treadmill or in front of the television, in the south of France or curled up in a blanket on the couch, is, it seems, beside the point. The point is, and what drives the sales of lottery tickets the world over, people are tired. They want respite, they want a freedom only found, it seems, in the lifestyles of the rich and famous.
Gossip magazines continue to sell at alarmingly high rates because they allow “mere mortals” to take a break from the pressures of working life and glimpse the pools, the closets, the jewelry and the traveling habits of those who have no need for punching clocks and clipping coupons. The downfall of celebrities is equally intriguing because, let’s face it, if they’re still not perfect and they have ALL THAT, then perhaps our lot in life is somehow more, well, survivable.
The Real Housewives phenomenon has tricked us into thinking that not only do you not have to be particularly good at anything or famous to have no responsibilities to speak of, you can also be a horrible person and have little to no set of inner values or character to be simply laden with wine, jewels, cars, hotels and sumptuous buffets of gourmet health food you eat after your personal trainer has helped you sculpt your physique to a perfect size 'perfect'.
But, as in the early grassroots movements of the 1960’s and 1970’s, when civil rights and feminism were still real battles being fought on American soil, buying into the system only makes the system stronger. By opting for something else, something larger than all this materialism, greed, and anxiety related to work, we can free ourselves from a mentally exhausting existence in which everything is either/or, black or white, working class or rich, run down or queen and king of a decadent, lavish lifestyle.
We can incorporate more art, music, poetry, down time, relaxation, aromatherapy, guitar strumming, delicious food and good friends into our lives so that there is more to life than work. The temptation, then, to turn to the reality television starts and their pseudo-celebrity lifestyles will be greatly reduced; after all, if we have a full, rich life without a lot of money or special treatment. Can’t we just be excited to continue on our journey as we are?
Aimee Boyle is a special education teacher and lives with her family on the shoreline of CT. She is a regular contributor to EmpowHER.