Saturday, February 18, 2006

It doesn't take money

A friend was saddened to tell me he had cancelled a trip to a sunny beach in the south because the travel was going to cost too much. He needed to save funds for attending work related conferences over the next year. “It’s sad that I can’t do something special for myself,” he lamented.

“It doesn’t take money to do something special for yourself.” I told him. “Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love,” Mary Baker Eddy wrote.

“It’s not where your body is that makes you happy, but where your thinking resides. You can have some of the happiest times of your life where you are right now if you are in a proper state of mind,” I explained.

What does it mean to do something special for oneself?

For me, it means doing something that brings a feeling of goodness into my life that I hadn’t been previously experiencing.

The key phrase here is “feeling of goodness.”

People often make the mistake of believing the goodness they seek will be found in a material place, person, or thing. I’ve learned from experience that this type of goodness is fleeting!

Once you leave the beach, then what? Once the meal is finished, then what? Once the other person loses interest, then what?

True goodness is spiritual, coming from God. We have access to it regardless of where we are located geographically. It is not found in a store, nor does it cost money. It is free, given to us by God. And we find it spiritually, through prayer and quiet time with the Divine.

A feeling of goodness comes in the form of peace of mind, inspiration, joy, gratitude, love and contentment.

“If you want to do something special for yourself,” I said to my friend, “take time out of your busy schedule, quietly go to God, and pray for increased spiritual mindedness. The joy you find in feeling close to God will stay with you forever, and you won’t worry about increasing your credit card debt in the meantime!”

It doesn’t cost money to have a good time. But it may take humility in appreciating how easily one can have a good time if open to spiritual possibilities.
By Evan Mehlenbacher
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6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your lovely, warm, and sunny thoughts on a cold February day! This is exactly the idea that I needed today. I am in constant wonder that our Father Mother God always provides what we need exactly when we need it.
Love is truly reflected in Love.

February 18, 2006 at 4:08 PM
Anonymous said...

What you say is very true, that it is your state of mind that makes you happy and not a location and so forth.
But for me, a family vacation and making memories has meant so much to me. Rather than giving giving gifts, I treasure so much more the togetherness, and having an experience that we can remember for a lifetime. Granted that you can make special moments at home or without going anywhere exotic or special, is it wrong to want to take a family vacation? And the fact is, people are not able to afford this.
It's hard not to feel envious when you hear of people who have summer homes or a place to get away, far from work and the regular hustle and bustle of daily life...a place where the family can spend some quality time in a beautiful environment. Unfortunately, that's a luxury that some of us can't afford.

August 30, 2007 at 3:21 PM
evan said...

To anon above,

Your point that happiness is a state of Mind is right on. It's true. It's not how much money you can spend on a vacation that makes for happy family time together. It's the love, goodwill, caring and sharing expressed among family members that makes the time special. Not amount of money spent. Some of the best memories my wife and I have are early in our marriage when our vacations were camping out in the mountains. Didn't take any budget at all, really, but still extra special times. It's Love that makes the time special.

August 31, 2007 at 7:17 PM
Anonymous said...

The point is that it's much harder to have the happiness state of Mind when you're living in a rat-infested, gang and drug filled neighborhood, than a nice suburban home with a vacation home in the country.

September 5, 2007 at 3:59 PM
evan said...

I don't think many people would argue with that point! Although, I do believe there are exceptions. I know many wealthy people who are quite miserable. And I've known many people with no money who are quite happy.

Aside from that, I've learned to never begrudge others their success. What I learn from watching them speeds up my progress, and I'm grateful for that opportunity.

September 5, 2007 at 5:07 PM
Anonymous said...

We have not always been able to spend money freely, but truly there are other ways to take vacations. It takes unlimited thinking, a desire for adventure and a love for the experience. I don't think of any of my get-a-ways as indulgences, really. I am always about my father's business, thinking, reading, doing my work. If I am with my husband, we do all kinds of brainstorming for the business as well as just enjoy each other and the scenery. If with family, we only need a table to play games and we are away from the world clatter for a bit. It's amazing how a small budget can produce a very wonderful and refreshing vacation. If you love nature, it's such a treat to get the visual beauty, paddle a boat, peddle a bike or hike. Using mileage points, we have even traveled overseas on occasion. Even though many friends have traveled to exotic places, I feel rich for all I have seen in the world from my tent or Motel 6 or mid-week Winter rate on a hotel or cabins. Mind truly refreshes and when we haven't been able to get away, we light a fire in the fireplade and turn off the phone and bring out the games!

February 14, 2008 at 11:30 PM

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