When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Or in my case, pop it in right after the tequila hits the spot. Yes, life is hard, we want a lot, we win some, we lose some. At the end, what matters is how we made it through all the wants and sacrifices. The balance that sits in between both.
Think about it. Our wants are simple: happiness, peace & love. But our adaptations of these wants end up in materialistic terms. We can achieve happiness by purchasing things; an expensive car, an expensive trip, nice perfumes to feel good or new clothes to look better. We lose the plot somewhere along the way.
To be at peace, we spend thousands of dollars to visit secluded islands. For the ones that want love, they lose the plot where buying gifts is equivalent to gaining love. Forgive me for being so direct. It is because, at some point, I am also these people. My idea of happiness stems from wanting to see my loved ones happy. I used to achieve this by showering them with gifts, food, and other material items. At some point, I realised that spending time with them, however little, but with full dedication meant the whole world to them; rather than a fancy watch or some jewellery. Eye opening for my soul, tear-jerking for my eyes, because I love gift research. It is odd, but I do. To be able to find the perfect, thoughtful, timeless gift. This was my gift.
But yes, ask yourself one question. At the end of your life’s journey; which of these things can you take with you. The gifts you give and receive, or the memories and emotions you feel and make others feel? Yes, the Egyptians bury their loved ones with food, ornaments and clothes. But, if you think logically, what happens to all that?
There are three scenarios: these offerings disintegrate over time and mix with the skeletal remains, or they magically transport themselves way high up to heaven or down to hell where their bearer is supposed to end up, and finally, the third and most believable is that these wonderful items are stolen by a compulsive thief in the middle of one night.
Now, I say, the most believable because human nature is generally greedy. Nothing is ever truly enough. If you don’t agree with me, write to me with an explanation. Whether it is love, peace, food, happiness, or simply life, we always want more. What we have, on most days, is not enough. And this is why we strive and strive, to achieve whatever it is we’re after.
But at the end of it, there’s only you and what you lived through. So why waste time worrying about how many things we can buy and use? Why not use the time to ponder over what activity is going to make us feel better, or how being with someone is going to be the vacation you need to take; just to listen to them speak, to be with them, to tell them about things that you learn.
A place to live, food to eat, books to read and people to love. The ideal set of wants. My set of wants. They transform eventually. Wake up wanting an expensive yacht for a few months, and one day something will click. You will wake up and wonder whether you really need fancy things, or just some good vibes around you. And that day will be your turning point. Your goals change, your methods change, your life changes.
Mindfulness will kick in. Nurture it. Build on it. Spread it. Love it. A sense of spirituality will consume you. Greenery around will look greener to you. Life will get simpler, because you will notice happy faces on passersby, instead of what they wear or drive.
Let this feeling take you over. It is an evolution. It is the unfolding of the true you. Vacations will be more about experiences, less about hotels. Dinners will be more about flavours, than flashiness. Shopping will be more about sustainable & conscious living, than about high-power brands. Reading will be more about understanding and absorbing, rather than rushing through to finish. So, on and so forth.
All I will say at the end is what Gautam Buddha taught us, ‘There is no path to happiness. Happiness is the path’. And the truth is, happiness lies in the simplicities of life. The uncomplicated, unspoiled, raw emotions we feel. So open yourself up, and you will see your wants evolve.
Written By Anisha Masand
Week 47, November ’20
