People idolize those with money, toys, and material possessions—the flashy cars and lavish vacations. Many respect those with positions of authority and fancy titles, successful business men and women, and entrepreneurs. But we have it all wrong. What would external riches mean if paired with internal poverty?
We should idolize those we believe to have found true happiness. As Eckhart Tolle said, "the secret to life is to die before you die." Let all the falsehoods, materialism, other people's expectations dissolve away and wither—let them die. In this way you will find the truth and the purest and most beautiful version of you. Embrace the true essence of you, with all the corks and intricacies. We are all betrothed to death—the only true democracy that exists. The only tragedy in death is at a life not lived.
A famous poet once said, "We R Who We R"—Ke$ha, I think it was. I wish I could agree, but too often I have found "We R Who Others Want Us 2 B" (that version doesn't sell as many records). There's a common saying regarding people's behavior with their personal fiances: "We buy things we don't need, to impress people we don't know, with money we don't have." I think a similar thing can be said about our choices during decision points in our life more broadly: "We do things we don't want, to impress people we know, with time we don't have." Live for yourself, for living for someone else is not living. Do not fall prey to the temptress of materialism and the need to impress others. Live only to impress yourself. As Warren Buffet would say, "Live with an internal scorecard."
I would take money over nothing; I choose adventure over everything. Although the technical definition is of a different nature, I use adventure loosely to represent any experience new or unique.
The subjectivity of time is an astonishing thing and memory a fickle character. Surely you have heard an elder in your life at one time or another say, as you have probably experienced yourself, the years only go by faster as you age. This phenomenon is primarily due to becoming creatures of routine, preventing oneself from new experiences and therefore new memories. I challenge you to avoid this black hole, and in so doing, you will live a life too long rather than too short.
Resist becoming a static being just floating through time instead of participating in the adventures of this immense world. Stay fresh in mind, body, soul, personality, and activity.
Brenden Gill said, "Not a shred of evidence exists in favor of the idea life is serious." I agree. Our brains sometimes try to convince us otherwise, try to create an unnecessary burden, but it is only a gimmick—an evolutionary tool to keep us alive. There will be times of sadness and a spectrum of other emotions. Learn from these moments and observe your emotions, but fight their attempts to devour you. Life is a beautiful adventure of experience and nothing more. Be you. Live free.