Ty's post about his reunion really got me to thinking about scale, in everything. Size is not everything (insert "how you use it" joke here), but it certainly can work for or against you.
In social situations, less is more. Whether it's class size, party size, family size, whatever, I think there's a lot more value to be had when you aren't spread thin. I went to a family reunion once that had more than 100 people at it, and it was kind of pointless because no one got any attention except the babies.
It's funny that in business, bigger is generally better because it means more revenue opportunity, and this is the bane of existence for public companies. I've worked for the entire scale, and it's a lot easier to work in a small company. You don't give that much of a shit about the big ones, and they're easy to walk away from (maybe that's a good thing). At the very least, I think you're driving toward a higher purpose in smaller companies.
It even matters for roller coasters (dork). Maverick is ten times the coaster Dragster is, and yet it's a fraction of the height.
A big house means more to clean. A big car means crappy gas mileage. A big budget film means more pressure to not suck.
I wonder how people became so fascinated with bigger things.
I think it's the "competitive" mindset that is part of human nature...to be "better" than those around you. People tend to forget what is really important as they strive for things they think they need to be happy. Bigger, better, more will bring more happiness.
I have a friend who planned his life out down to the "Marriage, nice house, nice cars and 2.5 children" who, once he achieved it, couldn't understand why he still wasn't happy.
Or those who see some person who has very little and can't understand how they can be happy in their lives.
Happiness comes from within.