Life, Liberty, and Property

Some of you may have heard this phrase before. It was actually used in the Declaration of Colonial Rights which was created in 1774 to respond to what Americans called the Intolerable acts which were basically laws that England created to put the Americans further under the crown's control (don't worry this isn't going to be a history lesson).

What makes this phrase interesting is the much more well known phrase that was used 2 years later in our Declaration of Independence: Life, Liberty, and The Pursuit of Happiness.

It's funny to think that at one time "property" was substituted for happiness. My first reaction to that was, "how materialistic of them."

But then I got thinking.

Shalie and I have recently been looking for a house to buy. Luckily, I recently received a promotion at eBay that put us in a position where we're financially able to get into a house. The best part is we found one! We're extremely excited and can't wait to move in!

This is our new home! It's in West Jordan and you can't tell from this picture, but it's got a gigantic yard. It's perfect for us right now. We got a good deal so that makes it even more exciting.

The entire time we've been married, we've always talked about owning our own home. It's definitely been at the top of our list of goals. For me personally, it's something I've wanted my entire life, mostly because it's actually something I've never had. I've never lived in a house that I or my family owned. We've always had someone on the other side of the wall. I've always been a renter. Never owned any property.

That's what made me think of this phrase. When the owner of the house accepted our offer, it felt like property and happiness were the same thing. No more need to turn down the game because of the neighbors. No more shoveling someone else's driveway. No more working to pay for someone else's property. No more lost dollars for someone else's responsibility.

In a sense, it's freedom. Freedom that I've dreamed about my entire life.

I know it sounds crazy, but I've always wanted to take care of my own yard. I hear a lot of people moan and groan about having to mow the lawn. Well, when you've never had one, you kind of feel left out. Shalie thinks I'm crazy( especially because our back yard is HUGE), but I honestly can't wait to take care of it: and the main reason is because it's mine. My property.

Now, I do want to clarify that I don't think property is happiness. It's still just material. Still temporary. What I am saying is that this particular property is a major landmark on The Ripley Family's pursuit to happiness. I can, to a point, see why they used the "property" phrase. I mean, in the end the pursuit of happiness is always about property--ownership of something. Whether you're trying to find who you are, the purpose of life, or your mansion in the sky, you're looking for property.

Maybe they weren't so far off.