Happiness In Approximations, By Mona Simpson

Everyone wants happiness. For many people, that happiness supposedly comes from material items. It is perfectly acceptable to want to have objects, but being dependent on money and items to make yourself happy is not a good mindset. The happiness you feel when you buy something new is only temporary. Objects will be forgotten, and items will perish. A spiritual teacher by the name of Adyashanti offers a theory for that: “When we make a purchase and/or get what we want, we are temporarily happy and fulfilled. But the reason for happiness is not because we got what we wanted, but because for a brief period of time, we stopped wanting, and thus we experience peace and happiness.” The short story ‘Approximations,’ by Mona Simpson demonstrates the belief of materialism
In the end, she received a cheap package of headbands and no trip because her father gambled the money away. This seemed to be very upsetting for Melinda’s mother. “‘I work,’ she said finally. ‘I pay for your school and your books and your skates and your lessons. And,’ she said in a louder whisper, ‘I pay the rent.’ She picked up the package of headbands and then dropped it back on my lap. ‘A seventy-nine-cent package of headbands.’ It wasn’t fair and I knew it.” Based on this quote, I believe that Melinda’s mother feels that she is a better parent and criticizes her ex-husband because he doesn’t have very much money. This suggests that she believes money is a way to make her daughter happy. On page 96, Melinda clearly states that she just wants her father’s love and attention, not to have money spent on her. “Suddenly, I wanted dates and plans and the name of the month, not to see Disneyland but to see him. Taking long steps, trying to match his pace, I wanted to say that I didn’t care about Disneyland.” There are many things that can cause a person to act this way. One theory suggests that it is a human evolutionary