As I was out strolling on my nightly walk, as I have done every night now for over a month, my aimless wandering led me to a very "ritzy" part of town. I assume that this needs no further explaination, as everyone knows of the areas of which I speak. As I passed house after house of well manicured yards and two to three band new trucks and cars sitting in their driveways, I started thinking about the lives these people live. Allow me to assert now that this is not a blog post containing any negative remarks about those who live a life of material abundance, but rather how my opinion of such has changed quite dramatically in such a short amount of time.
I imagine a saturday morning when the owner of such a home would be outside in the early morning sun, washing his vehicle with pride. The sense of accomplishment growing with each sud-soaked swipe of the sponge across each curve of their newly purchased car. I commend them for such an accomplishment, as they have placed their nose squarely to the grindstone, and persisted in such a way for many years of their lives, to be able to be in that very position. They have set goals for themselves, and for their families, and have followed through on those goals with a certain degree of integrity and dedication. As I am imagining this scenario, it occurs to me that just three short years ago I too held in high standards, such a goal for my own life. A nice house in the suburbs, a two car garage greeted by a freshly paved and well maintained driveway, lined perhaps with flourishing flowers or exceptionally groomed hedges. The decor for the driveway; a brand new and sparkling clean Toyota Tundra, parked in reverse, it's headlights and grill forming a sort of brooding face in the dim light of the streetlamp. But tonight, as I pass just such a residence, I am filled with absolute gratitude of a different kind. I am eternally grateful, and even thank the universe for the ability to be, completely free of a life like that.
To be able to go about my days and nights with the same worry-free innocence one often associates with children at play on recess, or a couple enjoying a sunset on some remote desert isle, completely present in it's beauty and magnificence.
From three short years ago until today, I have been able to free my mind of lofty aspirations and daydreams of three hundred thousand dollar homes and brand new cars, along with all the taxes and payments that undoubtedly accompany them. In their place, I now focus on myself and my impact on the universe, our planet, and my own spiritual awareness within it. I have devoted my life to attaining less, in order to acquire so much more. I am free from the trappings of a mortgage and a car payment, I pay no attention to gas prices or the stock market, and have no need for security systems or locks. Instead, I am concerned with maintaining a certain level of presence, and a mind free of negativity, pessimism, and violence. As I mentioned before, I commend people for the dreams and desires they have, and their achieving them, but must rightfully admit that I woud not trade lives with them for even an hour.
In a sense, I do have to admit, this is still very stange to me. I suppose this is due to my ego still striving to live up the expectations set forth by most, at what is considered a "successful" life. That small part of me that will always fight to have some sense of "I," and longing so dramatically for that sense of I to be one of material wealth and societal status. He knows his place, but that does not stiffle him from tossing his two cents about as one often does when told to be quiet. I have finally reached the point where everything I own can fit into a suitcase and a backpack, and my sense of achievement comes from being kind to others, traveling the earth as only a free man can, and experiencing as many things as this life has to offer me. My sense of comfort arises from knowing I have friends and family strewn about this country who love and support me, and I am able to come and go and visit them whenever I wish, with no concern of finacial availability or alloted time off. My sense of security is held firmly in the fact that I need no security, as I have nothing I hoard or perceive as "mine." For anything I have is just as much my fellow man's as it is mine, and I would, and do offer it up willingly, because the only things that I deem important enough to steal simply cannot be stolen.
For this I am eternally grateful.
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