On The Value of Your Possessions
Why do you work so hard?
“So, concerning the things we pursue, and for which we vigorously exert ourselves, we owe this consideration—either there is nothing useful in them, or most aren’t useful. Some of them are superfluous, while others aren’t worth that much. But we don’t discern this and see them as free, when they cost us dearly.” - Seneca
I recently celebrated my birthday. And as has become a tradition, I usually reflect on the state of my life- sometimes with some whiskey. This time, I asked myself why I work so hard, why I do my best everyday. From the outside, it can seem like I’m just another ambitious over-achiever- looking to stack his millions, retire early and drive his GT3 RS with the wing out. But after careful thinking, I came to the conclusion that there’s no way my hard work and determination can be just about acquiring more stuff, buying the next new thing, or having more in my account. There has to be more to life than possessions, even though they make our lives easier, freer, more fun. I want to possess just the necessary. And then that more, that more is what I want to live for.
See, there’s a moment after every purchase when the world feels warmer. You bring something new into your life, and for a short while, it lifts your sprits. It sits on your shelf, or your garage, or your wrist, and it seems to promise a better version of your days. You look at it and feel a small rise of pride, a sense that the hours you worked finally turned into something you can touch. You imagine how it completes the room, how it makes you feel more capable, much cooler, or more put together. And because you worked hard for it, the ownership feels justified.
But stay with that feeling long enough and you begin to…
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