Redefining what is necessary and essential is a welcome, yet unexpected benefit of the stay at home orders.
Would you agree most of us want better for ourselves? For our families and our friends? Sounds obvious, doesn’t it? I want to grow, achieve more… become a better version of myself.
But, have you ever felt that notion that says, “If I could get these last few things cleared out and in order, then accomplish this short list of other things, I’d finally have it?
Then I could sit back and enjoy the ride.
“Reap the benefits,” like they say. But guess what, there’s never a finish line. At least I haven’t found one, you?
So, a throttled-back existence seems to always be just out of reach.
But what keeps us going if we can’t find a way to throttle-back and cruise? It seems like a state worthy of pursuing in this go-go-go, now-now-now, more-more-more world.
No need to worry, because there’s a catch to it anyway.
You see, it turns out that humans thrive on solving problems. Imagine for a minute a world with no problems to solve. I know, I don’t think we have that to worry about that for some time. But, give it a shot. Ponder it for a moment.
Sounds a little boring, doesn’t it? Besides, a constant state of being idle may be as bad for us as a constant state of crazy-busy.
If for no better reason than having a role to perform, we humans are programmed for movement. I think the world has now proven that beyond any doubt. Don’t you?
If we’re not moving, we’re freaking out!
So, may I ask you, “Have you come to know your inner hamster-wheel any better through all of your staying at home?”
Without being out and about every day, seeing what everyone else is doing, and having, and getting, and becoming. Oh, and faking… hasn’t most of it taken a less important place?
As we’ve been able to spend a fair amount of time within the constraints of our own piece of the world, have you questioned how much of that is really necessary? How much is essential?
Don’t read me wrong here… I can’t wait to duck into a coffee shop, go out to eat, see a game, go to a concert. We all have our favorite parts. And we’ve been missing them big time.
Yet, there’s a whole lot I don’t miss, and I’ll never go back to again. I believe we’ve simply become caught up in how available all the cool stuff has become? Click. BOOM! You’ve got it.
The more we get, the more we want.
In and of itself, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with choosing to enjoy the accouterments of modern living. But, we lose control when we let ourselves get lost in the endlessness of it all. Let that soak in for a moment.
The pursuit of more and bigger things can take us away from those we love and a life we love living.
I’m wishing for all of us as we’ve been sequestered away against our will, that we’ve taken the opportunity to remember that. That we’ve reconnected with ourselves and those close to us. The ones inside our own homes!
I don’t believe it’s a financial driver for most of us either.
Of course, we have to pay the bills, provide for our own, and have our things. Study after study shows, however, that after a point money doesn’t make life more satisfying.
Isn’t there a number where life’s ripples smooth out and go away? Evidently not. And why is that still a surprise?
For me, once I realized that making more money so I could have more stuff wasn’t it, I then spent a very long time trying to figure out, what does a life that feels comfortable actually look like?
Likely because I was looking at it as if it was the destination.
When I realized life is indeed a journey, my ‘it’ all started to come together. That living life well is the prize. And then one day I realized this…
If you’re not enjoying the journey… bumps, detours, dusty trails, and all… you’re going to be disappointed with the destination.”
Be well. Be safe. Be untucked.
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