In a world that is so materialistic it is hard not to be but our attempts to keep up with the norms of our times is, on many levels, killing us or rather distracting us from living. We are so busy trying to save this and that, live green and lean and still have the comforts we’re told to have that we often lose sight of what we truly need, what we truly have and more importantly what we truly want. We are bombarded with images and expectations that tell us who and what we should be to others as well as ourselves. We are told that our quest for fulfillment rests not within ourselves but without. We are constantly looking without instead of within because of this subliminal directive most of us aren’t willing to admit exists or rather admit we are we affected by it. We disregard clothing, products, furnishings, foods, directions, people and relationships as we reach for the next best thing that will finally make us “happy”. It’s easier to move on and acquire new things rather than invest and work with what is here in front of us. It’s easier to maintain a fantasy of what we desire rather than invest and use what we have. We believe that we need to own, have, behave, expect, give, get, experience things and people that are beyond the scope of the world we live in and miss the opportunities that are right in front of us now, here, today. So distracted by the possibilities and the “what ifs” we end up disappointing others and disappointing ourselves by disrespecting the simple sincerity of life and by making it so complex that we lose sight of core of what we want. So distracted we lose sight of the simple answers and our ability to learn and invest becomes scattered and almost non-existent.
And there are those of us that attempt to find balance and fulfillment by “studying” exotic cultures and belief systems foreign to our own understanding and true ability to accept and live within the boundaries set by those schools of thought and belief systems because they evolved and existed in cultures different from our own. We regurgitate those “teachings” either bastardizing them because of who and what we are or constantly “sharing” them with hopes of salvaging others and perhaps on some level validating those teachings new to us. In the end, regardless of what we tell others and ourselves, we still want to own those things and by publically elevating the exercise, music, art and dance connected to those teachings we push them beyond their purpose of wellness and personal and social expression in hopes of finding the spiritual answer that will make us whole. By doing so we lose sight of the present. We reach beyond a life we aren’t living to the promise of “better days”. This is not to say that fulfillment can’t be found in these pursuits or that these expressions aren’t spiritual but isn’t it funny how trends begin and end up costing us more because of their exoticism?
This observation isn't new. Just another person's observation of constant human behavior. We are products of our times as well as wheels that affect change. If we are living our lives out loud we can’t help but be. I am as guilty as the next person for trying to fit into her "world". I am always trying to balance and not get sucked in or distracted by the "what ifs" or the "maybes" so that I don't lose sight of where I am or what it is I have always wanted with the belief that I know my purpose. I think that this is the norm for all of us and believe that all I can do is continue to try to remain balanced between it all, which is hard when there are so many things whispering and enticing me to lose focus and direction. I guess the key is to balance is to constantly check in and confirm that our reality is based on where and who we are beyond the computer, beyond the clothing and accessories, beyond the classes and hobbies, knowing that all those things make up who we are as well…
Does that make sense?
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