“Want is a growing giant whom the coat of Have
was never large enough to cover.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately – about my list of wants. Material things, intangible things, things I don’t yet have but someday hope to attain, things I dream of but haven’t yet achieved. There’s the dream house, of course, the off-the-grid house made of garbage, overlooking the beach and the mountains. There’s the desire for the elusive ideas of balance, and peace, and tranquility. And there’s also that endless search for answers to my spiritual questions.
I’ve been contemplating my own consumer mentality, and how my rebellious nature wants nothing to do with a clever marketing industry that brainwashes me into thinking that I want so much more than I do. Organic and sustainable or not, do I really need it at all? And what of our society’s voracious appetite for more – more money, more power, more success, more stuff – and the message that ultimately sends? That who we are is never quite enough. So I want better, I want more.
But as I move further along on this journey towards Simplicity, Frugality, and Frivolity… all with an Eco-Mentality, I realize that there is nothing more balanced or more peaceful than simply being in a state of gratitude for all that you have, and all that is, right now… appreciating everything and everyone in your present state of existence, and learning to Just Be. So I think I’ll Shrink that Growing Giant by realizing that everything I’ve ever really wanted, I already have.
© Yoyo1972
This post is dedicated to Papa, Arcane, Zany, Sparkle, Goodle, and Bear.
You are all I ever really wanted.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
This post brought tears to my eyes. So many people don’t ever truly realize what they want is right in front of them. I’m so happy for you and for your family that you guys have each other, support each other and are truly grateful for each other.
Thanks, D. I’m both sorry and happy that it made you cry. And I’m sorry that making you cry made me happy.
You are so funny!
We are, in this society, programed from birth to desire stuff. It’s why babies know the McDonalds jingle before their ABC’s. We are constantly bombarded with messages saying that we don’t have enough, need more, need newer.
Sofia, so glad to see, you are teaching “right thinking” to the future generations closest to you.
So, so true! But I know that I am certainly guilty of allowing my children to be exposed to all of these messages, and not doing a good enough job of counteracting those messages. Any suggestions?
Throw out the T.V.
Yes! I agree! I tried that once, was almost successful, but was defeated by a well-meaning relative!
Hi Sofia! I am following you back from the GBH. I totally agree with what you had to say here. It’s such a struggle. Advertising really does work. It makes us want, it makes us dissatisfied. And that is frustrating for people like us who try to focus on the simpler things in life. The only way to combat this gimmee syndrome is to truly look around and be thankful for the true blessings we have, not the stuff.
Ginger Bergemann recently posted..Combatting the Call of Consumerism
Thanks for this, Ginger! How do you stay in that mind frame, especially with all the holiday hoopla abound?
Hi Sofia! I’m following you back. Thanks for visiting my blog. I was laughing at myself when I read your latest post because the first word that caught my eye was “Sparkle”. When you said we have a lot in common, I honestly immediately thought that included our pets’ names. My apologies for that. Anyway, I was browsing around and I came upon this post. This is really LOVELY. Plus, it came to me during the Christmas season which is so timely to ponder about the truth that “all we really wanted, we already have.”
Be blessed always!
Cookie recently posted..Modesty Thrown Aside Mature Content- Viewer-Reader Discretion Advised
Cookie, thanks so much for taking the time to hang out a bit over here. I am really glad that you enjoyed and found value in this! It means a lot that you took the time to write these words here…