Outsider in My Own Country (Parts 12 & 13 of 13)

What it’s like to be different from most of my co-citizens in many ways

12. Money, consumerism, and status

“Before you chase success, status, power, wealth, fame, or love, first fall in love with yourself — for the person you’ll be, if and when you get there, is still the same. Success will be a painful path and an empty trophy without self acceptance, self worth, or if littered with self hate.”

Rasheed Ogunlaru

As much as I love beautiful architecture, I don’t need to live in a fancy place in order to feel contentment. [photo by the author]

This section ties together a lot of thoughts that I expressed in previous ones, such as travel, gambling, car, and fashion.

When it comes to money, consumerism, materialism, status, advertising, and shopping, I am definitely out of the mainstream. It seems to me that many Americans care greatly about what others think of them, which is the driving force behind their having to own expensive clothing, houses, and cars. I am quite the opposite in that I don’t care what people think about these choices that I have made for my own life.