American Dream ~ Rooted in the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims that “All men are created equal” with the right to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
The American Dream for most of us would include basically the same things; A nice home, fancy car, swimming pool, travel, dinners out, and lots of clothes. This is what we’re all taught from youth. The sad thing is, only 1 in 8 Americans can actually afford to live this way. The crazy thing about the American Dream is that it’s just that, a dream! We dream when we’re sleeping and dreams aren’t real.
The American Dream is expensive!
- 2400 sq. ft. home; average $250k
- Median housing expenses; $17,062 yearly
- Car expenses; $11,039 yearly
- Medical expenses; $9,144 yearly
- Groceries; $12,659 yearly
- The average American income is $57,617; US Census 2017
The only way you can afford stats like those above is with an income of income of at least $150k a year.
Take a look at the definition of The American Dream. The Pursuit of Happiness in the modern era is equated with the pursuit of acquiring things.
Happiness doesn’t lie in conspicuous consumption and the relentless amassing of useless crap. Happiness lies in the person sitting beside you and your ability to talk to them. Happiness is clear headed human interaction and empathy. Happiness is a home. And a home is not a house-home, it;s a mythological conceit. It is a state of mind. A place of communion and unconditional love. It is where, when you cross its threshold, you finally feel peace.
BY DENNIS LEHANE
The American Dream is tied so strongly with the pursuit of wealth, that we believe wealth brings happiness and fulfillment. We all need money to live, but if all you’re doing is living to get money, then what kind of life is that? Once our basic needs are met, money does very little to contribute to our happiness.
Making of a Minimalist 
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