"Stop Wanting What You Don't Have"

'What you have is what you want', one of the self help gurus says.  And while I generally agree that wanting what you don't have is wasteful, as well as an impediment to happiness, there is a part of me that wants to add a caveat.  That is this.  If you stop wanting what you don't have, then how do you ever get it?  That's right.  Before you get it, you generally have a yearning for it. And I think many things are worth wanting, and worth having.  Even "thing" things!  For me an example is our home.  We worked very hard to make it ours. and we treasure it like no other thing.

Of course my caveat is much easier to accept when I relate it to "non-thing" things.  For example, who would ever question wanting happiness, or peace, or family or health? 

I also see another problem with my title statement.  For me at least, to stop wanting what I don't have sounds like giving up.  For example, I want my physical vitality back, and until someone gives me a damn good reason that I can't have it, I ain't gonna stop wanting it.

So that brings me to the crux of the matter. 

"Stop Wanting What You 'Can't' Have"

Yah...that make sense....except?

You remember the old serenity prayer?

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

The last part is the hard part, just like figuring out what you can or can't have.

And I'm tired.  Part of me just wants to stop being so stubborn about reacquiring my physical and emotional health.  Just start sitting on the couch and vegetating until someone has to come and take care of me.  I could use more drugs (I'm thinking marijuana might be a good start), and certainly lots of sedatives, and pain killers.  And sleeping 12-14 hours a day would also be good.

But....stubborn is my nature.  So at least until someone tells me what I can't have, and probably for a long time after that, I'm gonna keep wanting some things I don't/can't have.  

But....stubborn is my nature.  So I also better apply some of it to the ongoing quest to finding out what I can't have, because lusting after the impossible, is indeed a recipe for depression.

That's it.  I don't know if this post makes any sense, and I ain't even gonna go back and proof read it.    

And a very huge shout-out today to my precious nephew Jason as he continues his magical journey with his friend AML  (look it up)   Your courage amazes me Jay!  I love you to the moon and up!!

...and on wanting...

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion."---Dalai Lama

Love

Peter