Pangea Express

Marie Louise Brown  July 2009

In light of recent heartbreaking events that have taken place in my current hometown I submit the following opinions.

For all of the parents out there who feel they are short changing or even damaging their children by not being able to buy them what they want (or allegedly need), or provide a certain lifestyle, or even make available the foods that are yearned for, take heart.  The only thing our children need to know is that they are loved unconditionally.  If we can show our kids the strongest, most loving part of our character, then we will be enhancing theirs. I’ll be taking my own advice this year as I explain why I’m not buying them new shoes and socks for school.

This country, and perhaps the entire world, has been led for too long by “The Market.”  You know, they run ads all day claiming we need this or that to be complete.  Pretty soon society as a whole, slowly, quietly, ever so subtly accepts the notion that we actually need more than air, water, maybe a drop or so of food, and if we’re lucky, shelter, to survive. We’re not entitled to anything, neither are our children. 

Air is the only thing we MIGHT be entitled to, and guess what, even the air is turning to poison.  So apparently we are NOT entitled to air.  Food and water are luxurious items.  In most of the world children are born and aren’t able to eat throughout their lifetimes, obviously they die very young.  But if humans were entitled to food and water, don’t you think everybody could get some?  Meanwhile, we’re a bunch of crying ninnies because our SUVs and mini mansions are being taken away.  I say let it go.  Let go of the American Burden, formerly known as the American Dream.  Feel your life, its flying past you and “not another minute will your money buy”, for you or your children.

Don’t believe them.  Don’t believe them when they tell you if you pay “this” then you’ll get “that”.  We may, on a string of extremely good luck, be able to influence 50% of our lives.  The other 50% isn’t up to us, its just happening.  There’s no one to blame for it. If we were to assign blame, don’t you think as Americans collectively we should stand up to accept our share?  After all, we throw out about 100 billion pounds of food each year.  Yet our conscious is stripped clean as we leap into the victim role when we can’t afford Lucky Charms, organic foods, or whatever is on our yen list.  It’s absurd and obscene.

You think the religious especially, in the western modernized world, would go hungry before they’d let another human being starve.  But I guess everybody’s too busy beating the summer heat in air conditioned shopping malls, eating at the starch, sugar, and fat food courts.

 I used to think I needed to procure many things that I find myself in the midst of letting go.  For example:  I used to think I needed to provide my children with a college education and that I needed to save for retirement.  I even used to believe that I was entitled to home ownership and a new car every ten years!  Talk about ridiculous!  Recently I wrestled with the notion that I had to have health insurance. Then I thought that maybe health insurance doesn’t enhance life; it only prevents death, for a little while anyway.  Did we ever stop to consider that buying all that insurance for accidents, fires, earthquakes, floods, and illness just feeds the catastrophe monster?  I wonder. Maybe if we bought less, they’d manufacture less, perhaps there’d be less jobs- but we’d all have more time to grow our own food, pollute less, and might ultimately be healthier.

I know this has all been said in one form or another before.  I’ve had so many different emotions stir up when on the topics of lifestyle, religion, and the economy.  But today I was able to at least come up with a nicer way to express it due to distantly experiencing a loss so tragic and profound it rocks me to my core.  A dreadful fear I didn’t even know existed has been realized.

So to those of you who are out there having a blast with your Midas touch, good for you!  I suppose it’s possible that the materialism won’t corrupt your children or cloud your relationships, or more importantly, blind you to the relationship you’re having with yourself.  I’m aware that in generations past, while achieving home ownership and obtaining luxury, simplicity and gratitude seemed not to fade.  I know you’re probably working your fingers to the bone for all that you’ve gained, but if you could recognize that it all isn’t necessary, then you won’t be afraid to lose any of it.  That is where real freedom is.

If you’re touch is like mine, and hasn’t really magnetized the abundance of gold you hoped for, then go ahead and love everybody anyway.  Forgive the harsh sides of life. Forgive yourself for not becoming your expectations and fully participating in the feeding frenzy that is entitlement.  Let go of the promises and the pride, grab onto the gratitude for every little smile and joy that crosses your path.  Allow those who find you hurting to safely approach you and show their support and appreciation for you.  To receive love is the one thing you can give back when there is nothing left. The only thing of real value you can impart to your children is how much you love them, and how joyous it is that they are even here with you! They are not your burden, they are your ally.  Put all that time while you’re laid off to some REALLY good use and hug them like you’ll never let go!