"Stuff" It

I used to be naïve enough to believe that money makes no difference in the way that humans view one another. I believed that friendship breaks all barriers and that station in life has no true bearing in a world of people who are brothers and sisters.  Sadly, I have grown up and now realize that money shouldn't make a difference. Yet it seems to.

Maybe it's not actual money that makes the difference. Maybe it's just the appearance of money. Things. Possessions.

It charms and delights me to understand that there people in the world who make no show of owning things, but in reality have the most money because they don't show it. Their debts are paid. They truly own their possessions. Yes, there are the truly wealthy, and they can and do afford all life has to offer. But if we all stood in a room together and had to pick out the people who have money and the people who don't, could we? I just wonder.

By looking at you, just you, I have no idea what you own. I may see some of your "things" and take notice of the colors you like, or the styles that you take on, but I will not know who you are. By watching you, and how you interact with and treat people around you, I will know more of who you are, and what is in your heart. It does not matter to me what kind of stuff you have in your house or on your body, or even what you drive away in.  Truthfully, I can't look at you and know which designer you like to wear. Unless there is a swish on your athletic shoe that is in plain view, I won't even know what your brand is. But by watching your body language and hearing the words you speak, I gain understanding of you. And that is what matters. The stuff inside. The things you have are things I hope make you happy. I hope you have them because they bring you joy. I want to see you happy. Other than that the rest just doesn't matter to me.


It really DOES NOT MATTER to anyone else in the world what you have. Belongings do not make a person any better than another. Material things make no difference to what you possess inside. The worldly things you own are your choosing, your decisions. It really doesn't matter to your neighbor whether you have them or not. You choose what matters to you. The only time it affects others is when and if you share those possessions with them. Then your kind gesture can be appreciated and valued for the fact that you were generous. In reality, the things you possess affect you. You get to decide HOW.

I'm the first one to admit that sometimes things bring comfort, and even  a sense of stability. Oft times there are memories attached to our possessions.  I don't begrudge anyone those pleasures. I just have a hope that the things we have don't cloud who we are. I think if anything that they can add a little joy to our essence, a little hope to our hearts,and generosity to our spirits.

At the end of the day, at the end of a life, the "stuff" we have...bigger, better, more...it won't matter to anyone. When it comes to more kindness, better interactions, bigger understanding, and more love, that's the stuff that will count. Not what you had, but how you lived. loved.

My most important "things"