Something that has been arising for me lately is my earlier dependence on material abundance. More clothes, more food, more money, more technology… more and more and more….
As time has gone by while I have desires still they are becoming more desires to experience life. While luxury would be nice, while wealth would be nice, I don’t feel such a dependent need on it.
I have just read ‘Tuesdays With Morrie’ by Mitch Albom, a quote by Morrie (based on a true story of an amazing teacher who was visited by an old student of his when he was nearing the end of his life and wrote a book based on Tuesday visits) really brought it home to me this week:
“Wherever I went in life , I met people wanting to gobble up something new. Gobble up a new car. Gobble up a new piece of property. Gobble up the latest toy. And then they wanted to tell you about it. ‘Guess what I got? Guess what I got?’
“You know how I always interpreted that? These were people so hungry for love that they were accepting substitutes. They were embracing material things and expecting a sort of hug back. But it never works. You can’t substitute material things for love or for gentleness or for tenderness or for a sense of comradeship.
Money is not a substitute for tenderness, and power is not a substitute for tenderness. I can tell you, as I’m sitting here dying, when you most need it, neither money nor power will give you the feeling you’re looking for, no matter how much of them you have.” Page 125
This reminds me of the thousands of people that have queued up around the globe to get the new IPAD2. This really puzzled me, as for me if someone wanted an IPAD2 surely waiting a few weeks when it would in the shops and probably cheaper would be a better option. It then dawned on me, so many people need the best to prove themselves to the world, “Look at me! I am important! I matter!”.
I am sure many of us have felt this similar need, I know I have felt this with different things in my life.
I am beginning, bit by bit, day by day, understanding, It’s love we need. Love from within ourselves, not from material objects, power, status or other people. But from the voice within, the love within.
To me, this is becoming more and more important every day.
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Kelly Martin is the author of ‘When Everyone Shines But You’ , a passionate writer and blogger questioning life’s illusions. After what seemed like a decade of intense anxiety, feelings of failure and grief from the loss of her father she chose to take a mindfulness path and has not looked back since. Kelly encourages people to find the treasures that lie within the pain and suffering and to learn to see themselves as ‘enough’ exactly as they are, right now through her writing and You Tube channel .
