Measure of Success

I know that this is a little of the topic but this is my blog and I do what I want. Today I began to think about how we measure ourselves and our level of success. When is enough enough? I feel like lately it has become less about the way that you make other people feel, the good deeds that you do, the effect you have on the world at large and more about other things. I feel that in some way we have to keep up. More is better. Bigger, better, faster, larger, thinner, prettier, smarter, more expensive.
Has life really come down to square footage and the number of degrees on your wall? Granted I fully believe in education... please do not get me wrong. But, somehow I feel that for all of the money I have shelled out in student loan payments I should at least consider the impact that I can make with all of that education. Cheese and rice, I have spent the sum total of 9 years in college and can ask that people call me Dr. should I not be encouraged by society to put that to good use instead of putting that towards parking something nice in my driveway?
I suppose what my rant really comes down to is the way that we see each other. Instantly we want to know what people drive, where they went to school, what degree they have and judge them on their outward appearance. I think as a whole we forget that people have a story. Often times that story is worth hearing. We are more than a resume or a facebook page. We can do more and be better. I know that their are exceptions to every rule. Hell, I live in a town full of people who have signed up to risk their lives for other people. That is inspiring. I just wish that the world as a whole was made of a little more give and a little less take. A little more laugh and a little less judge.