My parents were careful, frugal, did without and didn’t waste anything.  If they didn’t live this way, it would have impacted us immediately and personally.  They had to make these choices.  I wouldn’t want to be forced to do the same, but there were many qualities of their way of living that are missing in my own.  They are qualities that seem to be necessary to a good life, and there are many of us that miss out on them because we supposedly have it better, easier than they did.  Because we have more luxuries, more leisure and more opportunity, our lives are supposed to be better…but they aren’t. 

© Salahub 2003