I went to a friend's 60th birthday party recently and a guest asked the birthday boy to describe his life in one word and he said … “blessed”. I think that word described him very well.
Now if you were to ask me to describe my life is one word …
I would say … “simple”. Yes, I am a simple man … has been very simple, all my
life.
Many will ask … how simple is simple? Or what
exactly is simple? How do you define simple?
OK, this is my view … like many people, I worked hard and
managed to build a rather comfortable life after I retired. I have a house, a
car, some investments, some savings and many other material necessities to live
easy and comfortably for the years to come.
So, that means simple?
No.
When I say I am simple … it is because I don’t define myself
in association with the things I have.
But others may not share my view … some people want to be
defined in association with the things they have. It is a way of showing their successes
and achievements … they have every right to do that. And success brings luxury,
class, status, prestige and recognition … that is their preferred definition of
themselves or their lifestyle.
For me ... when I define myself, I define me … without embracing the
things that I have. Yes, those things are mine but I cannot hold them close to
me and say … “this is me”.
My point is … what is mine, is not me.
