254) Day 22 -- Reason #22 to revolt against Predatory Capitalism: True Happiness
Taking a break from Political corruption for my own sanity for a day, touching grass (well, snow…the pic is from several months ago…), and all that. And doing so really helped me. It reminded me of something I forget all too often when I get caught up in the craziness of what’s going on, and the sincerity with which I’d like to help make a difference, and the compassion for all the suffering that’s happening, and the rage at all the injustice.
Which is….you know, truly, deeply, “deep down inside”, I’m happy.
NOT with the state of the world and the suffering and the craziness and all that. Obviously. But personally, in my own little nook and cranny of Life, in the feeling in my own body when I’m just frying an egg or having a shower or reading a book or going for a walk, I’m happy.
After all, I am healthy (as far as I know!).
I live authentically and know who I really am (as a result of transitioning).
I have hobbies I deeply enjoy (chess, dancing, reading, writing, singing, Nature-stuff.)
I have “a mission” that I deeply find meaningful.
I have people who I deeply love.
I have a roof over my head, and food to eat.
And you know…that’s it. That’s what it takes to be truly, deeply happy (again, at least within the scope of your own personal life.)
It doesn’t take millions of dollars. It doesn’t take power. It doesn’t take “the next great thing”. It doesn’t take gadgets or vacations, the newest iPhone or a Netflix account. It doesn’t take nice furniture, a new car, or fancy clothes.
Happiness takes very, very little — shelter, food, love, meaning, fun. And if you’re healthy, for now anyway, it’s a blessing.
THIS is one of the deepest reasons I can think of for revolting against Predatory Capitalism. Because, for all it promises us, what does it actually deliver? Economic inequality, which leads to unequal power in society, which leads to corruption, which leads ultimately to the oligarchies taking over our countries.
It leads to war, hating “the other”, living in fear of crime caused by desperate people who are trying to either survive or “get ahead” IN THE SYSTEM OF PREDATORY CAPITALISM.
It leads to environmental destruction, to pollution and dying species and a fraying web of life that will, soon, literally threaten organized human existence.
It leads to cities of noise and garbage and sadness and homelessness and crime.
It leads to weapons and weapons and weapons and weapons, that just get bigger and bigger, because there are always more enemies.
It leads to working your ass off to make other people wealthier than you will ever be. While forgetting to just look up and marvel at the stars, or walk in the hushed Presence of a forest, or bask in the warm glow of laughter with loved ones, or delight in the simple joy of a game, or marvel at the genius of a work of art.
Predatory Capitalism gives Power and Wealth for the very few. (Who are themselves, usually not all that happy anyway.) And violence and suffering for the very many.
And yet, it takes almost nothing of “material wealth” to be happy. To feel fulfilled in life. To have peace in your heart.
With very, very little in terms of material possessions, but rich in purpose, rich in play, and rich in love, you can be happy, every day, forever. And so can your loved ones, your neighbours, and people on the other side of the world. Happiness is not a zero-sum game, in which if one person gets more the others get less. But Predatory Capitalism, is.
So revolt. Revolt against this system that is NOTHING but a cup of poison, when the Earth itself, the animals who are your kin, and the people everywhere who are your family, friends, mentors and community members, is all you need to be deeply, forever-happy.
It’s so simple. And yet, we’ve made the world so complicated.
And for what?
Love is not complicated. Peace is not complicated. LIFE does not have to be complicated.
And we would all be so much better off, if we stopped CHASING happiness, and simply…settled into it.