What Happens, and What We Do When Things Happen

"We must be more concerned with what we do with what happens to us than what happens to us."
-Marvin J. Ashton.

The first time I read this quote, I was horribly confused. I had to read the quote several times to get a grasp on what the meaning was. However, after understanding what the quote was all about, I founds it's message to be profound and lasting. We must be more concerned with how we deal with things, rather than the things themselves. This implies the type of character we have; our habits, and the way we act naturally.

When the wind is calm, it's easy to have a good attitude and happy disposition. But how do we face the hard times; death or illness, spilled milk; a missing piece of a jig saw puzzle? When everything isn't peachy keen, how do we act? What is our attitude towards it, is it a learning experience, or something obnoxious? Certainly we can't all see the lesson when we are in the midst of a conflict, but do we look back with a meek perspective, or is it just another incident to complain about?

According to Marvin J. Ashton, it really doesn't matter what happens to us; what matters is how we react to it. In my personal opinion, when you hit a snag in your life, it is the time to turn to sources of comfort and to grow. Turn to something good that radiates its qualities. Turn to friends, family members, or hobbies. Turn to things that will help your outlook on life change and move through it. So when you look back on it you can see how far you've climbed, rather than how close to the summit you could have been. There are no content feelings in regret. Even if things are hard now, do your best and when you look back, surely you will feel the pleasure of success. The glass will truly be half full.

Prudent, Provident, Pioneers.

"Fix it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."
-Pioneers

Reduce, reuse, and recycle; so maybe we still have a few lessons to learn from our ancestors. I have no idea where this exactly came from, but the concept is right on the money. I don't know the exact source, but I'm sure the pioneers who traveled to the northwest had to live by this concept. I feel that in light of the recent spiked interest in thrift shops and vintage clothing, we ought to remember that being frugal is more than stylish, or cool; it's being resourceful, it's being smart. Some people think that the second a screw comes loose the final destination is the trash can. But replacing something when a phone or iPod is plagued with a scratch wastes so much.

There's a second portion to this quote. Although not said in so many words, this quote speaks of high frugality. Of living within the means that you have. Keeping the financial crisis in mind and how much anxiety the United States is experiencing, you’d think people would spend less; apparently not... So what if you don't have the latest gadget? Are those cookies within the perimeter of the budget this week? Did you save for the holidays, or demagnetize your credit card? Does the word sacrifice have no meaning? Did you have any struggles growing up?

The United States has never been more prosperous, I think it's great the standard of living has gone up and there are higher levels of education available and higher paying jobs. But it has turned the United States of America into the Consuming States of America. Debt is higher than ever, and funnily enough, so has unhappiness. "Owing money or favors to someone gives me a sense of content," said no one ever... What happened? As the world propels head first embracing technology, maybe we need to recycle some core values.