“Some people want the
world.
Me? I just want to
enjoy it.”
I have been thinking
about that concept for a long time, and finally I pieced together the
twelve-word quote and wanted to share the inspiration…
Life isn’t about things. We all know this; at least at
some level.
Money is just an electronic
number, plastic card, paper, or metals and stones that were at some point
considered precious by someone.
Property, in the
beginning, was freely accessible to all. There were no fences to barricade
yourself from your neighbors. No competitions to see who could make it bigger
and better. Worse, land has become such a sought after commodity that people
and countries squabble, fight and kill over it.
Don’t misunderstand me.
Where we are at as a species at this moment in history is a very unique time. Innovation,
advances, technology. Countless things.
Whatever you want for whatever you need; for everything and every occasion. We
are in the age of choices.
And working hard to
afford a certain lifestyle or provide for family is not inherently bad. It is,
as I believe it, respectable and admirable. However, this attitude comes to a
fault when its motivation lies in greed, gluttony, disrespect, or selfishness
or when dishonorable or malicious practices are employed.
So it is my hope that
hard work is based in self respect and a drive to want to be a better person;
to do better and add something to this world. But during this pursuit of
happiness never forget humility or generosity.
Philanthropy, charity,
and good deeds should be practiced during both the hardest and most joyful
times of a person’s life. It is easy to give when you have it all. Imagine
winning the lottery and buying gifts for your friends. Easy, no brainer, feel
good thing, right? Conversely but similarly, what about giving when you have
nothing? Take the homeless person who shares their last piece of bread with
another. Tragically beautiful. The act might appear difficult but the internal
reward is beyond measure and explanation.
I’m drifting, I know.
To be completely candid I’m not quite sure what my central idea is. I suppose
it lies in the nature of us. Good and bad.
Traveling, seeing
different people in different places under different circumstances is
thought-provoking, mind blowing, and humbling. And in doing so, I have come to
a realization that I want my life to be driven my positivity and the feelings
and actions that breed this ideology.
I’m not perfect, not by
a long shot. Nor am I this holier than thou prick. Just someone who wants this
short life to have a meaning beyond artificial accumulation. Beyond the money
chase. Beyond a number of facebook friends, followers, and status updates. Beyond
things. What I want, rather what I strive
for, is quality.
This world is so
beautiful. There are so many amazing places to see. And I have been fortunate
enough to sample its beauty- by the generosity of my hard working parents and
grandparents, or by my own desire and curiosity- I have tasted delicious
delicacies, stood next to incredible history and gazed at amazing relics.
But the greatest
experience was achieved in the retrospective point of view. In the realization
that everything happens for a reason.
A wise woman once told
me that you can have anything in this world. Granted, not the literal
interpretation. But happiness, comfort, joy, etcetera- you know, the
metaphysical wonders. But as this woman continued, there are two things that come
attached with this truth.
First: even though we
can have anything that we put our mind to, we cannot control when it will enter
our life.
Second: and of equal
importance, we cannot control how long it will remain.
For example, and this
is just a spur of the moment, possibly oversimplified, example…but imagine you
seek love in the form of partnership. After years of searching, and perhaps
even giving up, that special, one in a billion person falls right in your arms.
You’ve never been happier. Never been more content. You are inseparable. You
are in true love.
Then boom, like the
Pearl Jam cover “Last Kiss,” that person is taken from you. It would be near
impossible not to be devastated, not to be broken.
But there lies the
answer in the form of a test. Would you give up? Would you say fuck it and stop
trying? Stop living?
The challenging but
rewarding answer would be to continue searching for what makes you happy.
Understand, love, and respect those moments and strive to create more. It might
be a tough, uphill battle, but you will achieve it if you truly seek it.
Despite dealing with
love, this example can be translated across the board; to all situations and
scenarios. Discover yourself, understand what you want and continue to grow.
Never stop trying, never settle.
And with that, I leave
you with one of my favorite quotes. I have seen it attributed to both DeCartes
and Confucious, and it goes:
“It is easy to hate and
it is difficult to love. This is how the scheme of things works. All the good
things are very difficult to achieve and bad things are easy to get.”
So in conclusion, I
just want to say enjoy this world; the people, places, and moments. Time is
fleeting and so might be the encounters, good and bad, but that doesn’t mean we
should be anything less than grateful and thankful for the opportunity to enjoy
them and learn from them.
It is easy to get
caught up in the money chase and the dash to fill your life with things. So I caution against seeking
this lifestyle and defining yourself by superficial assets.
The most meaningful of
assets come in the form of (but certainly not limited to) relationships, cross
cultural understanding, and generosity. The moment you realize life is about
more than accumulating things will be
a moment of true enlightenment.
Spend quality time with
loved ones, talk to strangers, don’t be afraid to dream and pursue those
dreams. Nature is a playground; a living canvas; an awesome gift. Take time to
enjoy it but remember to treat it with dignity and respect. Stay positive, even
when it’s difficult. Smile randomly- that exercise alone is fantastic for positive
growth. Most of all, be happy. People, places and things can indirectly add to
it, but true happiness comes from within J
Catch you later world,
me
