Beyond Possessions

When we stop to think about the direction our lives take, the first thought that often comes to mind is that many things could have been different. This is natural and an important reflection to have.

It is entirely understandable to want to leave behind a meaningful legacy that represents who we are. Many people express this desire through the legitimate pursuit of a good home, a loving family, a car in the driveway, and so on. This is all perfectly normal.

However, none of these things necessarily guarantee happiness or self-fulfilment. Ambition can be a useful emotion, of course, particularly when it concerns survival or comfort. The problem arises when a person becomes an insatiable hunter — forgetting to truly share life with others.

It is striking how often those who have so much end up feeling as if they have nothing — despite a successful career, a brand-new car, and an esteemed academic background.

On the other hand, some people find abundance in having little — perhaps out of necessity, perhaps out of personal modesty. That is not to say that a complete lack of ambition is not also a problem, as it can lead to a disinterest in life. And by no means is this an attempt to glorify poverty — that would be foolish.

One way or another, the curious thing is that, as time passes, we all begin to sense that something is missing. We look back and wonder what we could have done differently — perhaps a little more, or a little less. No one is entirely free from this feeling.

It is not for everyone, but there is a certain richness in wanting the best legacy to be a life shared with the people we love. Something intangible — a legacy encoded in those who knew us. A living memory that we made a difference.

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