by Neil Rees (in Costa Calida Chronicle, May 2024)
We can’t take it with us when we go. The Pharaohs though they could. As we all know, their possessions were either stolen or ended up in museums. You don’t see a hearse towing a trailer. Yet we spend so much time and effort on trying to obtain possessions. You would like to think that your inheritors would like to have your possessions when you die but more often than not, your stuff ends up on a selling website or at the rubbish dump. Think about what you need and not you want or desire. What will add value to your life and/or your family’s life? Consider getting rid of the clutter in your life and this also applies to your emotional life.
We do like to make our lives more complicated than it needs to be. Taking onboard stuff that we don’t need. Going down paths that lead to nowhere or conflict. Social media is probably the main root of life’s complications. How many people bring stress and conflict into their lives through social media. If you don’t like or agree with something on social media; you do not have to engage; you don’t have to voice your opinion. People who make a living off social media do so by the number of engagements they get on a post. Even if you give a post a “dislike” or make a negative comment, it still counts in the favour of the person who posted it. You may pat yourself on the back for setting the person straight, but actually it is a waste of time and effort.
You will be the one who is upset, stressed and angry. Or you would have inflicted insult and emotional injury on someone else.
Once again, I ask you to have a look to see whether your possessions and/or social media life brings you peace, love and happiness. If not, get rid of everything that burdens you or is a waste of time and effort.
Paraphrasing the song: “Is it well with your soul?”