How often do people answer us with the word "busy" when we ask how they're doing? How often have we answered with "busy" ourselves? It's so easy to forget where we are in life and how far we've worked to be here and always strive for the next thing. Perhaps it's our society, perhaps it's social media or perhaps it's just our nature or maybe it's a mix of all.

 

Imagine a particularly bright and sunny day in our youth, when we are cheerful, bright and optimistic. We step out of our door and see everyone is running in the same direction. We ask a few people what's happening and they say breathlessly that they can't stop to chat and ask us to run along with them so they can explain on the way. 

 

However, while their efforts to explain may be sincere, it feels as confusing as listening to someone detail the necessities of joining their network at a pyramid scheme. Now even more bewildered, we look around and see that everyone is still running in the same direction so we're curious and run along with them. Until we notice a few slow down to catch their breaths and fall behind, and some even stop completely. 

 

That's how I would describe this human race. At some point it catches up with us all. Is this the source of our discontent? Do we feel subpar if we don't keep up? Does this cause us to have eternal anxiety or overthink everything? Is this all truly about money?

 

Coming from a comfortable middle-class family life in early childhood to a very humble bed-ridden single-mom life in my youth, I can personally attest to the challenges posed by lack of money. However, I still question if money brings us happiness, buys us happiness or maybe just provides more resources to happiness and perhaps even health?

 

A few days ago, I was catching up with a friend and as always she found a way to ground me ever so beautifully. She always points to her mind and body and explains how she protects it all dearly and guards what is allowed near her at all times. I think she's one of the few who has slowed down at the race and is truly content with it. She works hard and she plays hard. She has goals and ambitions but they're for herself. She doesn't boast or strive to please others and her social circle is small and genuine. While she may initially answer with "busy" when I ask how she is, she follows the sentence with "I am at so many points I strived to get to, so I try to remember that and be grateful". 

 

So maybe today, we can strive to be like my friend too. Let's remember all the things we wanted and how we have them now. Let's take a deep breath Whether in the race or not, let's renew our intention to be kind and take care of ourselves and our loved ones. Let's smile and pat two friends on the back for doing their best and hopefully bring a smile to their faces as well. 

 

Wishing you a wonderful day, 

 

Loba 🌸

 

 

PS. I would love to suggest two books today: Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach and In a World of Sunrises by Cleo Wade to encourage more joy and balance into our lives. 

 

Side note: In Persian, we refer to people such as my friend as "khaki" which literally translates to "dusty" but is is of the highest compliment to mean that one is down to earth regardless of their status or wealth. One who is without pretension, willing to treat others truly equally, sit on the ground and share a simple meal.