Do not envy the executive with the corner office,
the big house, the fancy cars that can no longer fit
in the triple garage because of stored possessions.
Executives are slaves to ambition, fear losing what they have.
They think more is better, more of everything –
things, experiences, steps up the ladder.
They think others envy them, and in a sense,
they are mostly correct.
They are slaves because they cannot have enough,
never satisfied with enough, so nothing will ever be enough.
Trapped on the hedonic treadmill, running, running, running,
without destination. Do not envy the ambitious,
those that covet money, possessions, status.
There is a fiction of the marketing world,
that the possessions and experiences of the
wealthy and ambitious will bring greater happiness.
But they do not.
And what is wealth anyway?
Many believe wealth is the sum value of one’s
money and possessions. But that is not so.
Wealth is merely the gap between what you earn
and what you spend.
The wealthiest are those who live well below their means,
who find joy in simple things, a cup of tea and a good book,
talking with friends, listening to soothing music,
sitting in silence.
One does not have to drive to the airport, fly to a distant land,
pay national park fees, or hire a guide to revel in the beauty of nature.
It is within walking distance.
Perhaps right outside your window.
If you are to be ambitious, be ambitious about virtue.
Be ambitious about being a better person.
Seek wisdom, temper your desire for possessions,
be charitable, kind, respectful of all living things,
be courageous, more truthful and just.
Practice virtue every day.
And when you are asked if you are ambitious,
despite your simple life, you can truthfully answer yes.
