"A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in ... - Aesop (BC) Most of us go through life always wanting more and better. Being in this state of constant desire does not coexist w
"A crust eaten in peace is better than a banquet partaken in anxiety." - Aesop (BC)
Most of us go through life always wanting more and better. Being in this state of constant desire does not coexist with peace of mind. It is normal to want a better life for ourselves and our families, but we have to balance our goals with the cost. How much does this promotion, vacation, new purchase, cost in terms of real life? How many extra hours of stress and anxiety, now and later, go into getting it?
"The cost of a thing is the amount of what I call life, which is required to be exchanged for it immediately or in the long run." - Henry Thoreau (1817-1862)
Corporations and their advertisers are out to make money. Advertising is one-way communication persuading us to buy things we may not need or want. The good things in life are free, life itself, friendship, nature. Whatever we do possess, in the end we must leave it all behind.
"Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind. The demon of worldly desires is always seeking chances to deceive the mind. If a viper lives in your room and you wish to have a peaceful sleep, you must first chase it out." - Buddha (BC)
More and more we are coming to falsely regard material gains as success and missing out on the true values of life. "Whoever does not regard what he has as most ample wealth, is unhappy though he be master of the world." - Epicurus (BC)
Money really is quite necessary in our life, but its value should not be worshiped. Being careful not to waste it will give us less to worry about, so "Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship." - Ben Franklin (1706-1790)
This article is an excerpt from "32 KEYS: A Collection of Ideas About Life" . The book summarizes the most popular basic ideas on the subject of improving the quality of life. It is free to read online. URL: http://www.ahappyday.ws
