Things

If you desire many things, many things will seem few.

~ Benjamin Franklin

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The things around us tell us stories.  The things we keep with us as we go about our days.  The things we keep in our homes and put in places of privilege.  The things we worry about.  The things we desire.  And other people's things tell us stories about them. 

In the photo above, we might single assumptions about people's things.  That a little girl lives in this house.  We might assume that she likes her bike (since she used the kickstand).  We might wonder what her adventures have been on the bike, or if she is inside having dinner.

Or maybe we combine our assumptions and tell ourselves complete stories based on other people's things.  Like the bike story above.  Or that the person with the biggest house and the most expensive car is the luckiest or happiest person in town.  Or the person with the fewest things is the most sad.

But these stories are things we make up.  And probably rarely true.  The things we own probably cause more sadness and stress and the things from which we are free probably give us more joy.

Examples include "having" chickenpox or an annoying neighbor or a car everyone vandalizes.  Or "not having" a lot of taxes or indigestion or a bunch of junk when you decide to move.  The things to which we are not bound tell us as much about ourselves as the things to which we hold on.

So let go of your chickenpox and you will be more happy.