The first thing that happened was that I woke up to a message from a friend who was feeling down about not having as much as her family. I am sure most of us at some point feel that pressure to have more and live a better life. So much so that we some times forget why we chose the path we chose. I know I do sometimes. I could have been married to a guy from a well to do family several times. I could have had nice things galore, gone to fancy restaurants, and traveling where ever I want to go. Yet all those things wouldn't bring real happiness. Just like my friend chose to go with less in her life so she could be there for her husband and her two wonderful little boys. She could have chosen to walk away from the man she loved to find someone who didn't have all his health problems. She could have chosen not to have two handsome boys. He life probably would be easier. She probably would have a beautiful house. Yet would she have the love and happiness she has now? Would a house instead of an RV filled with love really be better? Does new pretty things replace love? Most people can't have everything. If I had to choose I would choose love. Money doesn't buy real happiness. It only buys objects that eventually fade away. That kind of happiness is short lived.
Later on a friend of mine texted me about his story of when he decided to go back home. The decision was made at a bus stop when something I said kept going through his mind. He kept thinking about when I told him he should make a living with his art. He is a phenomenal artist and I know he could make a decent living with his art if he tried. Well he sold his bicycle on the spot, called his brother, and took a Greyhound home. He didn't even stop to pack his stuff before he left. He decided his love of painting was more important than his belongings. He left and hasn't regretted it since.
Then I got another message from the friend who was feeling down. In this new message she mentioned her Mother and how she always wanted to be like her. She realized she was more like her Mother than she realized. Her Mother wasn't about having nice things or a perfect life. Her Mother was about love and family. When I read that I remembered the person I wanted to be the most alike in this world. . . . . . My Grandma Jones. My Grandma was the happiest person I ever met. She didn't place her happiness in material things. Her happiness came from family, love, God, nature, and life.She was always happiest when talking about or to family, gardening, hiking, or doing for others. Including a family of bluebirds. Yes, that memory still makes me smile. Heehee. If she found a treasure in the garbage can of another she got excited. For her it wasn't about how she got what she had or how much it cost. It was about the usefulness of the item and not wasting. Granted my Grandpa made enough money that she didn't have to do that. My Grandma's favorite store was the Salvation Army. When I visited she always took me there to go shopping. I remember my first purse came from there. My Grandma decided I was old enough to own my first purse and she took me to the Salvation Army to find one. For her happiness was a simple thing. It wasn't complex or flashy.
All these things made me realize something I keep forgetting. A home isn't what you put inside it or what the outside looks like. It is built with the love that lives within. I knew that when I was young. That is why I never settled when it came to love and I won't now. I don't want a building empty and cold. I want a home filled with love, warmth, and alive with beautiful memories, sad times, happy times, hard times, and all those things that give you warmth when you feel alone. I think we all need a reminder sometimes. Especially in this crazy world we live in where people look at you weird if you don't meet their standards. It is easy to get caught up and swept away. So hopefully this helped ground you a little against the tide of insanity. Oh and Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy lots of turkey and yumminess.
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