Being yourself is a challenge when you feel like you have to adapt to the whims and norms of others. Keeping up with the Joneses means trying to impress people by putting on airs and buying things of value so that you will look the part. Sometimes it means doing things that go against your nature. This evening an episode of the Andy Griffith Show, Andy sends Opie to a camp where Opie meets a boy from an affluent family. This puts pressure on the Taylor family to act differently and do things differently because they feel like in order to be accepted by the family of Opie’s friend.

This is a common theme when people who want to be accepted, to be in the in-crowd which means they have to live above their means. People are always trying to impress so they will feel included in society. We all want to be a part of something bigger than ourselves but should it mean selling our soul and compromising our core beliefs to do so.

I have seen people who have tried to keep up with the Joneses at a great cost. Everyone has a dream and we all want those dreams to come true but my friends people can pick out those who are less than genuine. Perhaps being realistic about who we are and where we are in life will mean you can be accepted by those who matter and will be with you for the long haul.

Be honest with yourself, with others and enjoy the blessings you have, because someone thought you would need them.