I recently read an article about families who are forced to be two income, and therefore need to place their children into daycare of some type.

Let me start right off by saying, that there is a time in today's world where there seems to be no choice. Where life itself, gives you few choices, and in order to provide for your family you must choose to live in need or to place the children in daycare while you work.

I'm in no way slamming, or criticizing those, who, by no fault of their own, must do this to make it.

I'm speaking of, and to, an altogether different segment of folks. Those that feel, in order to have a life, that they need to, 'purchase it'.

My heart goes out to these people and to their families. They just dont know what they are missing out on.

I have a friend that provides me with a perfect example. He is married, to a beautiful person. They are both great people and hard workers. They are very together in so many ways. Smart, college educated people, with no clue how to be happy.

They have nice family. A big, beautiful house filled with nice things. Entertainment of every kind in the home. Computers, games, satellite dish. Some would say that they have it all.

Yet, as their close friend, I can tell you that neither of them is happy. Time pressures, brought on by money pressures, related to several other issues have kept the two of them apart, lonely, and sad. They, like most of us, have problems, but those problems are compounded because they don't know each other anymore.

He drinks, and does drugs occasionally to get through. She works until she drops and sleeps her worries away.

Do they work to have stuff? Or does the stuff they have make them have to work?

All these wonderful things that we can buy in this day and age. It's great stuff! (Most of it.) It's supposed to make our lives easier, and better, and it can. Why doesn't it seem to work that way? Where did we go wrong?

The sad thing is, that in our efforts to be happy, and to provide our families with nice things and happiness, we have given them the things, at the expense of their time with us. Then, still, have not accomplished the main goal in the first place, happiness.

Families, couples, couples with kids, however the home unit is made up. They have nice homes, nice things, and no relationships with the very ones they want to make happy. They have no time to enjoy their things, because the struggle to pay for everything has consumed them. Their time, energy, and soul.

I'm reminded of a very interesting, yet sobering tour I once took. As most people are aware, 'Graceland', was the Memphis, Tennessee home of, 'the king of rock and roll', Elvis Presley. I had the opportunity years ago to tour his home, gym, airplane, and tour bus. All very cool, and equipped with the best gadgets of the day. I was in awe of the history of the place and the thoughts that a childhood hero of mine had actually lived there.

The other thoughts soon crashed in and took over, though.

This beautiful home with all of its gadgets and nice things.. Several TVs, a complete gym, pool, and all sorts of other comforts were not enough to make Presley happy. He once told an old pastor of his, when he was a rising and happening young star, that he was the most unhappy young man on the face of the planet. He continued his pursuit of happiness, and more stuff, right up until his death caused by a drug overdose, a sad and broken man.

Surrounded by millions of dollars worth of things, with hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide, the king of rock and roll died unhappy, obese, and by himself.

I see people every day who are chasing the ever elusive, 'happy dream'. There is so much out there to be had, and they want it.

My suggestion to anyone wholl listen, is this...

Slow down and reassess what is really important. Instead of thinking what more work will get you, think of what the time away will cost you.