My grandmother was the same way, Rachel. She grew up in an era where they didn't have much, but appreciated everything they had. She never 'bought' into consumerism, and so she valued and CHERISHED so much the few things she had and was given. I think you hit the nail on the head in your second paragraph where you talked about how we are flooded by so many things that we give little value to what we have.
I believe to go back to that way of living, we need to go back to a simpler lifestyle, have fewer things, and don't look to consumerism, or 'shopping therapy' to make us happy.
There is a school of being called 'Zen Living' which focuses more on living in the present moment. Things like "Do one thing at a time; give it your full attention. Do it slowly, deliberately, and completely. Do less. Put space between things." It's being totally present to live and not depending on an influx of new 'stuff' to try and make us happy.