August 28, 2019

What is mine, is not me


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.