“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.”
— Socrates
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I went out to the town recently – my annual trip to the shops, to purview and browse and see what I might like to buy. This time of year gets me all excited about stuff, the anticipation of finding something I can purchase that will give me a warm glow of feeling more complete.
I really like things, things of beauty and quality, things of use that make my life simpler and more fun.
The trouble is that I must have everything I need for I quickly tired of what was on offer and sought refuge in a warm and sustaining lunch. Young Zachary agreed and we tucked into some delights at a local pub. Cozy, content, a good companion with a smile on his face (not to mention the pie), with a coffee to put a cherry on the top of it all.
The fact is, especially this time of year, I forget that the town cannot sell me anything I truly want. A warm belly and a place to shelter from the weather seems to be the height of my needs.
I’m no anti-possessions guy, I’m really not. I love my stuff; but I love the ability to be content with the simple things more.
If you gave me a million pounds and told me to spend it on things I loved?
It would be fine food, fine friends (minus mobile phones so we can actually develop a fine conversation), perhaps after something physical out in nature to earn a hunger and an appreciation of simple things like the fact of our aliveness, that our hearts are still beating, that we can smile and make each other laugh.
And maybe that’s the same with everyone.
Isn’t it the intangibles that make the difference to your life?
An ability to choose to be content; to be at ease in our own skin, to have nothing to prove and nothing to hide? A sense of purpose? An ability to nurture that purpose every single day? A sense of lightness, humour and appreciation to celebrate this life with? Maybe, if possible, some good friends and family to join us?
Isn’t it true?
No thing that we can exchange money for can give us these intangibles, but they are worth their weight in gold. (If they could be weighed – which they can’t.)
These are the things I wish for you this festive season:
A knowing that busy-ness and haste and expectation is the thief of appreciation and celebration.
A love for the moment you find yourself in.
A freedom from self-criticism and self-editing and empty need.
A remembering of why you are alive and who you are here to help.
A certainty that you can’t always change the circumstances, but you can certainly change yourself.
Now.
There’s many more, but they all come from the same place. I wish that you take the time to go there and find them for yourself.
So – while it’s not quite a partridge in a pear tree, it’s infinitely better me thinks.
Go well,
Arjuna