All I Really Need

rosprynn © 2005

 

 

My daughter called me earlier this week chuckling.  “Mum, I have to tell you.  I just heard that Raffi was given an honorary degree. We are now fellow alumnae”.  As she continued to giggle (and don’t you just love the sound of your kids giggling – no matter how old they are?) we both remembered all those times when she was little and Raffi was a staple diet in our house.  

 

Life was simpler back then.  Or was it us who were simpler? As we sang together across the phone lines “All I really need is a song in my heart, food in my belly, Love in my family…” I was reminded life really is still simple, uncomplicated, if we allow it to be so.  As we get older it is we humans who make life so complicated. 

 

A child singing gleefully is a reminder to each of us that we really DO have all we need.  In this consumer society it often takes an effort to live simply, remember what really matters about life; we get sucked up into the ‘must have’ syndrome.  Who among us has not said “I really want….”?  In this day of instant gratification, when we are barraged by ever more invasive advertising, it is sometimes hard to turn our backs on all the ‘things’ in the world, and focus instead on what is real, the important stuff.  Does it really matter if we don’t have the latest Gap jeans, or the latest CD?  Does the owning of these material things feed our souls, make us more fulfilled people?  I suggest not.  I still don’t own a CD player (and yep – partly because I wouldn’t know how to work it!)  I still only own Raffi on vinyl - the Beatles and Billie Holliday too.  And hey, must be something to the simplicity of vinyl, since even dj rappers are now hunting through old LP collections!

 

Do I love to eat the most expensive menu item?  Yep, I confess, I recently did just that with a prize certificate that my daughter had won.  But, do I really need to spend $90 on a lunch when I could eat for $5?  The answer is obvious. For me, a sundae from McDonalds - (and no, no payment was made for this endorsement) is every bit as glorious on a hot day as any Ritz menu item.

 

There is a growing movement across North America to ‘simplify’. Isn’t it ironic that in the most wasteful continent on the planet, workshops are now held to teach people how to simplify their lives? As parents we all want the ‘best’ for our kids, but the ‘best’ has nothing to do with what we buy.  To me, the ‘best’ has to do with peace and contentment, love, compassion, the capacity for joy, all of which are priceless.  Those are never for sale, never on sale.  They are within each of us. And I believe it is the sharing of these non-negotiable goods that makes the world a better place.  If you have a song in your heart, food in your belly, love in your family, you ARE wealthy beyond measure. It really is that simple