I want more of less. I want more quiet. I want more alone time. I want more creative abilities. I want more motivation. But do y'all see the problem here? I'm still wanting more of something instead of being happy with what I have been given.
No matter what it is, it seems it is not what I want so I want more of the things I want without being as appreciative as I should of the things I have been given. How's that for wordy? Goodness.
When do I arrive at the place where I appreciate the quiet times I have as well as the not so quiet ones? When do I become ever so thankful for what creative abilities I do have and stop wanting better or more? When do I become happy with what I have without wanting more?
When does that time come when more is not even a thought because satisfaction with the gifts we have are quite enough?
It's not that I believe wanting more is a bad thing but, when we forget to appreciate the things, people, abilities, etc that we do have, wanting more seems rather silly. (My 5 minutes stopped here)
I get it. I see the better out there. I see the more out there. And I believe we somehow learn it at a very early age- do more, get more, be more... How do we draw the line between wanting more just because it seems bigger or better or the people seem happier and realizing what we have is enough for us?
Perhaps seeing the value in what we do have, the fact that these things and people are gifts will help with drawing that line and being happy right where we are and show future generations that happiness doesn't necessarily lie in having more.
I'm a day late. This is becoming a habit, y'all. This post is linked to Five Minute Friday. The prompt this week is MORE.
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Thank you so much for this important reminder. I too need to focus on appreciating what I have instead of wanting more. I hope you have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteLet me know if you have any tips for getting there. :) Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!
DeleteAlways wanting more is probably one of the biggest problems we deal with in the USA... now that you mention it!
ReplyDeleteI agree. It's everywhere including my own backyard.
DeleteVery well said my friend. I need to be more content with what I have already.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm still working on it but I'm closer than ever before.
DeleteI enjoyed your post (interestingly I used exactly the same Oliver Twist quote and picture in mine too!). Contentment is a very, very important virtue, I think: to value what we do have and not constantly yearn or strive for more. Of course there are times and situations where we need to push forward or go deeper to experience more of what life has for us. But there is also great joy to be found in contentment and appreciation for where we are right now, in this moment. Thanks for writing!
ReplyDeleteJeannie (I'm #25 in the FMF linkup this week)
Great minds...LOL Exactly! I think I'm finally getting there. It's taken an awfully long time. Better late than never. :) Thank you!
DeleteThe older I get, the more I realize that less is more, as far as house size and material things go, anyway. As for creative talent...I do wish for more, but the more I cultivate what I've been given, the happier I am with what I have. And the nice quiet house now that the kids are gone...I do love that!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the quiet of the house when the kids left. But two came back and I still have one here. There is no more quiet and I miss it terribly!
Deletegood thoughtful post. We compare. We can get drunk on success. We can be deceived by what marketers want us to believe should be ours. I think it's a learning process but it doesn't hurt to remind our kids and ourselves about this. Also, I think as we approach the end when the material things will no longer matter we reflect on the meaningful. Ok I'm going to save my comment here because I'll need to remind myself of it later.
ReplyDeleteOh shoot. I hope I'm not nearing the end. LOL We are so easily deceived by marketers, aren't we? It's shameful. I feel like I'll find my peace when I clear all these people...I mean, things out of my house. Was that a Freudian slip? LOL
DeleteReally good thoughts here. "We are complete in Him". Will we ever believe it? We miss what we have and what we had by always wanting more. Visiting from #75
ReplyDeleteGood question. Thanks for the visit! And for the comment!
DeleteI LOVE your current 'want more' list, Pam!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this.
Thank you so much!
DeleteThank you Pam for linking up at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty. I shared this post on Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, and Twitter.
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting, commenting, and sharing! I don't know how you have the time but I greatly appreciate it!
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ReplyDeleteGood read. Thank you for sharing with #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty. I’ve shared your post on social media.
Thank you so much! I love this linky party so much!
DeleteSuch wise words! Thank you for sharing at BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty I'vecshated on social media.
ReplyDeleteThank you! This is my favorite linky party! Everyone visits and comments, it's awesome!
DeleteI'm retired, now. I recently gave away several large garbage bags full of clothing that I no longer need. My first thought was to go out and buy some clothes for the up-coming summer months. Then, I realized -- I don't really need any more clothes. It's a liberating thought.Thank you for sharing at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty. I'm sharing your post on social media.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I never realized scaling down would be so freeing! Thank you!
DeleteI'm with you and in fact my word for the year is Simplify. I recently visited Vanauatu and the people there are so content and happy with their life. Yet they get no holidays or material things. I certainly was reminded of how we need to appreciate what we have in our family and friends rather than posessions. Thanks for sharing with us at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty I'm sharing on social media.
ReplyDeleteSue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
Lately, I have been reflecting on the desire for stuff, and how I don't really need any more stuff. But your point is that wanting more doesn't just pertain to material goods; we can also desire more time, more talent, more recognition, and so forth. To a certain degree, such wishes can inspire us to learn new things or to strive in our careers or creative pursuits. But the Zen way is to live in and appreciate the present moment.
ReplyDeleteJude