Taking Life for granted
A cousin of mine is visiting from the states. We have had many conversations about our different situations, and what is considered "normal" both here and there. The conversation also came to what we need and what we want. We both agreed that people in general often mistake what they need with what they want. SInce returning to live in the Caribbean I have come to realise and learnt how to be even more discerning with what I THINK I need (which is probably really only half of what I REALLY need).
We have all heard about the refugee situation in Europe since last year - many of them had to flee their homes with only what they were wearing. In times of hurricane and other natural disasters this sort of experience is one that many will be faced with. Being forced to leave things behind can be painful to varying degrees, depending on how much we hang on to them. BUT having less clutter and baggage is so liberating too!!
A thought for you today:
If you had to leave your home ( with little time to act) and could only take FIVE things with you, what would you choose?
i know this is not directly related to (monetary) success, but I believe our general attitude determines whether we are successful or not, and anyway success has so many faces, and means something different at a different time in our lives.
This thought is for one of those moments when you are having a well deserved break from working so hard on your blog, your site, helping others in the community, or just generally coping with life. It might help to re-view (look again, take stock) of what is important to you.
Have a good day.
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I would take my 5 pups. This past spring there was a wildfire burning out of control about 20 km from where I live. We were put on evac notice so I piled everything I deem dear and near to me into my camper plus the necessary provisions to survive several weeks. Luckily, we didn't have to leave but the camper remains packed and ready to go. I would hate to lose my families pictures and momentos but as long as my daughter, my pups and myself survive everything else can be replaced. Good post, Valina.
Dawn :)
thanks for the comment
i think such an experience surely changes our perspective.
after tropical storm Erica here on the island last year I certainly changed the way I thought about certain things
Thanks for your thoughtful post. Here in Italy 300 people died last week in an earthquake and many many have lost everything. I was thinking exactly about what you are naming here for the last days. Life is more precious than things, but needing to begin from literally zero is the extreme challenge, as, at the end, you have to succeed alone, you cannot count on help of others or the state. You have to go through all the discomforts, the pain and the fears yourself, and more often than not, alone. The others are too much occupied with their own lives......
i certainly agree that life is a whole lot more precious than things Heidi, one reason I now live with less. I enjoy it a lot more..
and i think it is really hard when you have to start from scratch and do so alone.... and yet it is all these things which make us what and who we are, which give us the strength to carry one. An "easy" life is not as character forming as when you have challenges to face ...
thanks for commenting
Absolutely! I agree fully, especially that challenges help us grow - at least very often. Maybe not for everyone who ends up in total victimism...
If I ever experienced a situation where I had to leave home in a very short period of time and could only take five things, I would account for all of my children...included my two four-legged babies, grab my car keys, personal information such as birth certificates/social security cards & money, non-perishable food/water & toiletries&hygiene; products. Thank you for such an amazing article!!
thanks for the comment,
although you are cheating because I counted 6 things (not including the children) :) lol.
so i guess you might have to leave the toiletries behind, ha ha :)
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Very good question. I would definitely take my IPad and smart[phone. The IPad contains my library and music. My passport and drivers licence and wallet.
good choices!