We Are Living In A Material World

And I am a Material Sheep.

I often think that I should maybe do something about getting my Zen on. I wonder if I should shun that which is material and start appreciating the intrinsic value of the simpler things. The beauty of a sunrise, the laughter of a child, the gentle whisper of the Autumnal winds as they send brightly colored leaves scuttling busily around the streets...these should be counted among my riches. How peaceful life would be were I to cast aside my role as a certified member of The Rat Race and just settle myself cross-legged in the middle of a field in order that I might meditate on the beauty of the dew seeping through the seat of my jeans. I'm pretty sure that I could get pizza delivery to a field if I worded the order right...

My commitment to the simpler life never lasts long. But this is in no way my fault. How is a Sheep with aspirations to non-materialism supposed to see it through when there is so much cool stuff to be had out there? It's not fair, really. In fact, it is downright depressing. So much so, that I must engage in retail therapy in order that I might recover. Who knows to what depths I might sink over this whole matter if I didn't throw a few dollars at my Acquisition Issues?

I'm all about good mental health, after all.

This is why it was so very, very important that I purchase some yarn from Wooly Wonka. It is money I would have had to pay to a therapist anyway. And, if you recall, none of this is my fault since all I wanted was to sit in a field in my soggy jeans while meditating on the beauty of the daisies. My motives were pure.

But it's alpaca in the Wasatch colorway...there really is no way one can avoid purchasing it.

And even if I were able to resist the beauty of a yarn dyed to match the beautiful Wasatch Mountains that my poor eyes haven't been privileged to see in many, many years now, there are other possessions that are fairly forced upon me. Possessions so perfectly suited to my tastes that they must be added to The Collection. You can see how my path to spiritual enlightenment is fairly littered with roadblocks! And, as if my own weaknesses were not enough, the cats have an uncanny way of knowing just whom the sender of certain items must be. The package was barely opened before they used their catly instincts to divine that Auntie April's hands had touched these things. Desdemona is particularly taken with goodies that make their way from April's side of the country to mine.

She investigates.

She lovingly caresses.

The whole sorry display ends with a show of kitty love that is really beneath her. But awfully cute...

I have to admit it: I love my stuff!!! My stuff defines me. (I mean, honestly...a Zombie Escape Plan notebook? It was meant to be mine!) I like to have all my stuff around me so I can look at it and revel in the fact that I snagged it before others could get the chance. Or that someone else thought of it and snagged it on my behalf. Or dyed something that reminds me of my favorite vacations. And, if the cats like it, so much the better. Then we have a sort of harmony going on that is kind of Zennish if you don't think about it too hard. (Or have a hard-core, working definition of "Zen.") Besides, the Zombie notebook is made from pages recycled from medical texts and the like. The planet did not suffer in its making. At least not to the degree that it will when the zombies rise up and begin to roam the streets in search of a nosh. But, you've already heard my thoughts on the matter so I won't take up your valuable time with that particular rant. Just know that I will be making my list and checking it twice in my new notebook. When the day comes, I will be ready. And I'll be doing it with responsible recycled paper.

I guess I'll just have to accept my materialistic ways. There is simply too much cool stuff out there for me to ignore. I'll do my best to keep it to a minimum. Just the stuff that makes sense and is within my budget.

Except that any good Zombie Escape Plan requires a large, armored vehicle with gun turrets and a mini fridge for snacks. That one may be a little hard to justify...

SA