Everything We Need

The weeks leading up to my departure date of February 19 2009 were hectic and stressful; however, they did not need to be. Reflecting back on my “preparations”, I can only laugh at how ridiculous I was. The majority of my time was spent running to various clothing, sporting goods, and department stores. I would roam the aisles looking for things that I might “need”, think about the item for a while, and then, when I finally became exhausted from just thinking about it, I would just purchase the item to end my misery… only to return it later.

I purchased tons of new dress clothes (I already owned enough to outfit a small office), a hoodie (even though I have five that I never wear) various camping/backpacking equipment (like I’d be living in the wilderness for my two years), travel gear, a clearanced canvass wallet (I felt it was an appropriate time to get rid of my leather one, being vegetarian and all), and of course I needed a couple pairs of new shoes (including crocs). I returned almost ALL of it. I wasted sooo much time shuffling around store merchandise, when I could have been doing way more productive things. I could have been reading, I could have packed instead of staying up the whole night before I left, I could have soaked up a few last minute American amenities, or I could have just relaxed (something I desperately want to do now).

Instead I became caught up in the crazy American game called consumerism. Because of all the options out there, it makes people question what they know and wonder if there’s something they need, that they’re missing out on. The thing is, if you ever have to question whether or not you need something…well, then you DON’T need it. The questioning is the answer to the question, you never have to question a need. There is no what-if or maybe or might, you either do or you don’t.

So after this whole fiasco, I relearned a universal truth that I keep forgetting, but that the universe keeps reminding me of. That we already have everything we need. I went all across town, hectic and chaotic and stressed, and looking for what I had all along in front of me. I was too busy thinking about what I “needed” to appreciate what I had. We do that far too much in this world, with money, with possessions, with jobs, with relationships. We look outside for the things that we already have within. Everything you truly need in life, to be happy, to be whole, to be fulfilled, to be complete…has always been inside of you. There is nothing else you need.