can you be more with less?

hello everyone!

Saturday morning.

Finally.

I was going to sit and paint something

or at least try

but I have too many words

flying around my head

and so, I am writing instead.

One day this week,

before going into work,

I stood in line for my morning coffee,

and as I looked around me,

everyone but one older man in the line

had their necks bent like giraffes

and were hopelessly scrolling

on their phones

for any small bit of information

or entertainment

that might make their lives

a little more interesting.

As I scanned everyone in line

(and there were at least 7 or 8 of us),

the old man’s eyes connected to mine

and for that brief moment,

I knew that he and I

were thinking the same thing.

I knew his mind in that moment

and he knew mine.

WHAT ARE WE ALL SEARCHING FOR?

And more importantly –

what

are

we

all

MISSING?

He smiled and I smiled

and we both went on our way.

I am past the mid-point in my work contract

and although it is smoother than last year,

I must admit that I am now counting the days.

I struggle with having so much less time

and energy for making art.

I struggle with the choice I made

to go back to such an environment.

I tell myself this is the last time

because it no longer serves me,

and when something no longer serves you,

you either let go

or be dragged.

I struggle with feeling so different

than most people I work with.

They are motivated by money.

I am not.

I am motivated by freedom.

They are not.

I work (temporarily) in an environment

where most people there have made

very good salaries for many years

and built up healthy pension plans.

Conversations there usually revolve around

expensive purchases,

food, trips to exotic places,

and money.

I sit there and hear the words

being thrown above my cubicle wall

and I wonder about their dreams.

Did any of them want to be landscapers

or bakers

or musicians

or poets

or race car drivers?

Did they sacrifice their dreams

for the sake of making money?

How many chose this path

because of the financial rewards

and the promise of a comfortable future?

(I would dare say most)

For 8 hours a day,

I am surrounded with people

who make a lot of money,

but seem worn out

or disconnected somehow.

They have designer clothes

but their bodies seem exhausted.

Not in a physical way,

but in a mental way.

Many are on sick leave,

or extended time off,

because they’ve “burned out”

one too many times.

Many choose to work overtime

because they don’t want to seem

any less ambitious than others

or they’ve come to depend

on that extra chunky paycheque.

Some are in counselling

because they have problems sleeping

or because they feel depressed.

It is an atmosphere of competition

and climbing the ladder

and jealousy and greed.

Not everyone there is greedy,

but many are.

Not everyone is competitive or jealous,

but many are.

Years ago, when I was young & naïve,

I used to envy those

who had more money than I did.

I know so much better now.

Some money is necessary and good

but the amount in your bank account

has nothing to do with your level of happiness

or peace of heart & mind.

If you have enough

for food and shelter,

and you are GRATEFUL for anything extra,

you are richer than most

and your heart should be at peace.

Regardless of where you are in life,

or what you have (or don’t have)

you should never feel any less

than someone who has more,

because the person who seems to have more

isn’t necessarily any happier

than the one who seems to have nothing.

Having more doesn’t mean

being more.

YOU ARE ENOUGH.

There.

I said it.

A long way to get to

a simple point, isn't it

:)

Happy weekend everyone.

xx