Shed Your Possessions: Gain Ideas, Dreams, Depth

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Abstract

f a monster truck with enormous tires and a tiny elevated cab. The truck briefly became the talk of his neighborhood. People crowded around, clamoring to climb up into it, feel the girth of the suspension springs, even offering to wash the oversized beast. This young man was so pleased with the popularity of his new toy, he was talking about buying a second monster truck. If one is good, two must be better.Material acquisitions provide the illusion of happiness, but too often just lead to a desire for more. When is enough, enough? How many monster trucks does one man need? (Hint: zero).In saying this, I’m not conflating material possessions with financial security. Financial security is a calming influence, knowing we can ride out life’s headwinds. A rainy-day-fund and a nest egg for retirement are worth striving for, and can give real peace of mind.What we’re talking about is the acquisition of things, and the resultant envy we feel when we see people with more and better things.Things take up space, require i

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nsurance, maintenance, and there’s always a newer iteration that makes your current version look pathetic and obsolete.Material things are what many strive to acquire when they’re young. As they grow older, they begin to shed them as unwelcome clutter.What Else? To my above list, many people would add: leading a simple life. There is a joy that flows from the simple things: a daily routine well-followed, a task list checked off, a puppy who greets us at the door, the comfort of an evening in the warmth and privacy of our home and loved ones.Don’t let possessions, or the quest for ever-better possessions take over your life. Find joy in relationships and companionship, in what you do well, in what you’re learning, in what you like, and in the many ways you help others. Fireworks won’t explode, the earth won’t shake, but you will find satisfaction with real staying power.Morehttps://readmedium.com/the-most-important-change-you-can-make-in-your-life-a192e343d231</article></body>

How Many Monster Trucks Does One Man Need?

Image: Ken Martin at Bell Bookhouse — house of air and light

Make a list of what you find most satisfying in life — just the top five or six things. I wrote down the first five that popped into my head, no particular order:

Discover and experience new things

Help other people

Learn new skills, expand knowledge

Create — art, music, words, etc.

Companionship, relationships, sharing

Imagine No Possessions Material possessions didn’t make my list, and probably didn’t make yours. No buying that new coat, top-of-the-line synthesizer, or the Jeep tricked out with hardened tires, industrial-strength winch, and the Mars lights on top.

A few years ago, a newspaper highlighted a young man’s purchase of a monster truck with enormous tires and a tiny elevated cab. The truck briefly became the talk of his neighborhood. People crowded around, clamoring to climb up into it, feel the girth of the suspension springs, even offering to wash the oversized beast. This young man was so pleased with the popularity of his new toy, he was talking about buying a second monster truck. If one is good, two must be better.

Material acquisitions provide the illusion of happiness, but too often just lead to a desire for more. When is enough, enough? How many monster trucks does one man need? (Hint: zero).

In saying this, I’m not conflating material possessions with financial security. Financial security is a calming influence, knowing we can ride out life’s headwinds. A rainy-day-fund and a nest egg for retirement are worth striving for, and can give real peace of mind.

What we’re talking about is the acquisition of things, and the resultant envy we feel when we see people with more and better things.

Things take up space, require insurance, maintenance, and there’s always a newer iteration that makes your current version look pathetic and obsolete.

Material things are what many strive to acquire when they’re young. As they grow older, they begin to shed them as unwelcome clutter.

What Else? To my above list, many people would add: leading a simple life. There is a joy that flows from the simple things: a daily routine well-followed, a task list checked off, a puppy who greets us at the door, the comfort of an evening in the warmth and privacy of our home and loved ones.

Don’t let possessions, or the quest for ever-better possessions take over your life. Find joy in relationships and companionship, in what you do well, in what you’re learning, in what you like, and in the many ways you help others. Fireworks won’t explode, the earth won’t shake, but you will find satisfaction with real staying power.

More

https://readmedium.com/the-most-important-change-you-can-make-in-your-life-a192e343d231