What does all this have to do with spirituality?
I was content; I had a nice home, I lived in a tropical climate, I had two healthy boys, a kind, loving husband and pots of money.
With Neil earning a stratospheric salary in Singapore and me working for relative peanuts, our debts evaporated almost overnight. I knew that money does not give you happiness, it merely minimises the inconveniences of life, but what surprised me that despite meeting all the goals we are raised to believe will bring us happiness how quickly get used to it. After the first flush of motherhood, buying a new dining table or travelling around India, you soon take these privileges for granted. Like the stunning view of Ventry harbour from our window when holidaying in Dingle, after a few days you start to take it for granted. It becomes wallpaper - there in the background but you don't see it anymore.
I attempted to fill the void with food, not eating food, I got a job, I quit the job when my son got sick, shopping, getting drunk, self help books, travelling to India, Vietnam, Australia and Laos with friends but still the gnawing, lingering hunger; is this all there is?
I read the books and lapped up the words of advice. I listened to Dr Phil and Oprah. I wanted to understand wisdom and I thought reading books would do the trick. But I now realise the path to wisdom is from experience and progress is slow, gradual and almost barely noticeable. I went through many periods of bewilderment, frustration and boredom before realising several truths I had heard all my life. Such as:
Don't take things personally. When someone does something to you, it's about them not about you. That took years for me to understand.
Money does not buy happiness.
If you want to change the world, change yourself first.
And over the next few posts; I will tell you what I went through before the penny dropped.
I was content; I had a nice home, I lived in a tropical climate, I had two healthy boys, a kind, loving husband and pots of money.
With Neil earning a stratospheric salary in Singapore and me working for relative peanuts, our debts evaporated almost overnight. I knew that money does not give you happiness, it merely minimises the inconveniences of life, but what surprised me that despite meeting all the goals we are raised to believe will bring us happiness how quickly get used to it. After the first flush of motherhood, buying a new dining table or travelling around India, you soon take these privileges for granted. Like the stunning view of Ventry harbour from our window when holidaying in Dingle, after a few days you start to take it for granted. It becomes wallpaper - there in the background but you don't see it anymore.
I attempted to fill the void with food, not eating food, I got a job, I quit the job when my son got sick, shopping, getting drunk, self help books, travelling to India, Vietnam, Australia and Laos with friends but still the gnawing, lingering hunger; is this all there is?
I read the books and lapped up the words of advice. I listened to Dr Phil and Oprah. I wanted to understand wisdom and I thought reading books would do the trick. But I now realise the path to wisdom is from experience and progress is slow, gradual and almost barely noticeable. I went through many periods of bewilderment, frustration and boredom before realising several truths I had heard all my life. Such as:
Don't take things personally. When someone does something to you, it's about them not about you. That took years for me to understand.
Money does not buy happiness.
If you want to change the world, change yourself first.
And over the next few posts; I will tell you what I went through before the penny dropped.
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