The Simple Life

Why is it that people feel like they need to have the biggest and best of everything in order to be happy? This seems completely backwards to me. I think I would be happiest having a very simple life, and spending my money on traveling, donating, and good food. That sounds like a perfect life to me. The studio apartment I currently live in is probably about 200 or so square feet. That's pretty small. But I still feel like I could live without half of this stuff. The few things that I do have feel like more of a burden to me than anything else. Does anybody else get that? When people buy me things, it's not a gift, it's another thing weighing me down. It's another thing that I'll have to store and eventually get rid of. Last night, I read an article that made me want to clear out my junk drawers and closets immediately. The article takes you through the lives of a few different families who traded in their 5 bedroom houses and fancy cars, for a much more modest way of life, and they are finding themselves happier than ever. And no amount of possessions could ever compare to this new level of happiness they have found. I highly recommend reading it. Here's the article: http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Meet-Followers-of-the-Simple-Living-Philosophy/1