elmsgeo

A pause to gain more

If I am happy when it's there and unhappy when it’s not, how fleeting was the happiness it gave me? If I’m overjoyed when I get it, but feel left out when I don’t get the next – how grateful was I for the first …? This is how the best of us normally respond to accomplishments ranging from buying a new gadget or an automobile, to the bestseller on the stand, or even to a fancy new plant. As true as this behavior is for material goods, it is for success, appreciation, recognition and promotions. There is an insatiable desire for goods, fame, and who can forget money. Nothing is ever enough! Or is it? I will leave that to you to answer for yourself. At the onset I must share that there is no judgement here as I tell you what I feel. I know that each one of us is unique and that’s the only way it should be. So my dear friends, do whatever floats your boat but definitely pause and enjoy what you strived so hard for, what you had saved up so long for, and in some cases even prayed for. Here is my opinion on this matter – I believe that we keep desiring for one thing after another probably since * We are busy following the trend mindlessly * We don’t know what actually sparks joy in us (that’s right I’ve stolen @marie-kondo’s phrase here) * What end will this new thing meet or simply put - what next! Though not a new learning, the recent pandemic was a good reminder to most of us. We lost people, we were grounded, many of us even longed for human interactions. Now I agree that life moves on, hybrid or not, life will pick its pace (and we can’t wait for it to); but we’d be a fool if we don’t learn lessons when they are smack right on our faces. I feel an awareness of why we are seeking what we are, why do we want the next thing that we do, might help us know whether that next thing is really what we need, or will we just hoard it and move on, again. Yes it is great to do things big and small, yes it is important to innovate, transform and evolve but it takes a far greater resolve to pause, relish your achievements and say ‘I enjoy what I have right now!’. So please, for my sake, ask yourself these simple questions the next time that new shiny thing allures you– what about what I earned just yesterday, have I paused and enjoyed it atleast for a moment yet? ... and if the answer is yes, then go right on and, yearn for, strive, work, and create some more.