The Allure of Wanting
Even Trash Looks Attractive In Other’s Possessions…
I’ve learned that: There are times in life that make you wish for things that others have that you don’t and really want but regret to have later on.
Instead of chasing after them, I learned to use the power of gratitude to tell myself that I already have so much, enough for so many people to be in yearning for the basic things that I take for granted.
There are those in the hospital, breathing each breath with pain who wishes that isn’t the case. There are those who wish they just have a simple pair of shoes to wear, a piece of bread to get through the night, a cup of clean water to drink… If we open our eyes to see, we will find, that there is so much need in the world, and what we want is luxury in comparison.
We oughtn’t to chase after what others earned for themselves, those are the things that look good on the surface but may have less meaning when they are on your hands. There is a difference between going after what you wanted and going after what others have. The former grants you satisfaction, because it is something you desired to possess in your heart, having it bring you joy and meaning, and purpose. Whereas going after what others have, you simply end up owning an empty shell. Your desire to have it will soon fade since it wasn’t something your heart wanted, it’s something society/others influenced you to own for the sake of owning it.
To this day, my uncle kept a torn-out polypropylene bag with him, and treasured it above anything in his household, more than the appliance, electronics, and cars he own. Why? Because when he was extremely poor in his youth, this was the bag that he used to haul rice, vegetables, beans, and other foods back and forth between towns. It was patched over and over again, but it always held together and helped him finish each trip. To him, this bag means more than any monetary worth or value, and it is something that reminds him of the tough times that he came through, endured, and led to the good life today. This bag means nothing to anyone else but it’s priceless to him.
Have you seen the movie “Cast Away”? Remember the beloved “Wilson” by the main character? Was it just a soccer ball to him? or was this mere fiction of the imagination of a best friend when there was no one around to get him through each day, to give him imaginary encouragement, conversation, and company? However we looked at it, it held tremendous value to him than himself, even to the point of breakdown, and gave up trying after it was lost in the sea.
Let’s learn to recognize the plenty and seemingly simplistic but meaningful we have today and simply be grateful.
