From a very young age my parents have repeated to me, "Sofia, people are worth for what they are and not for what they have." At first I didn't understand very well what they meant by this, but over the years its meaning has become more and more significant. Now that I'm an adult I can see the great lesson behind this phrase.
We live in times where using filters and putting on facades is encouraged, and what people say is highly valued. Also, we have everything at reach, just a click away. Consumerism is growing more and more every day and unconsciously the thought that the more we have the more we are, is established in our minds; and this not only refers to material objects. For example, it's said that when people have "power" they really show their true colors, and boy is that true. I've seen several examples of this, including the person who claims to be our president. We have to be careful when we're "having" a lot, because we can easily lose ourselves.
I think one of the positive things that the pandemic has brought has been precisely stripping ourselves of what we used to consider “important” and focus on what truly is matters. We've learned to live with less, with the essential. All of that we desired to buy is no longer used as before. In addition, we see how, just as with power, crises come to show us with whom we can truly count on. We realize that not everyone we call friends or family really are, and that support often comes from those whom we least expect it from.
There's also a lot of talk about values. I want to refer to them in a different way, not as the moral values that we know but as to what we give value or importance in our lives. What's important to us? Wearing brand name clothes, or just having clothes? See how the perspective changes. The same is true for our value as people. Who we are is not defined by our wealth, material goods, or possessions. Of course, I don't want to say that economic support is not important, but it's not the most important thing, and above all it does NOT define us.
So what defines us? Well, it's a complicated question, because even our actions don't really define us. Making a mistake doesn't make us bad. Stating that our actions define us completely cancels out the opportunity we have to improve or change.
You'll read it as cheesy but I think that what really defines us is our heart and what's inside. But how so? Well, we see it reflected in our intentions with others, and in the types of thoughts and feelings that frequent us, so that everything runs in complete harmony and brings us peace. I told you it would seem cheesy. I'm practically speaking of a coherent person who can be described as someone who does and says what he/she thinks and feels; who remains true to himself/herself and his/her values (that which he/she considers important), despite what her environment may be selling to him/her as attractive or valuable.
Beauty is simple, let's look for more essence and less appearance.
If you liked this writing and think that it may interest someone, share it.
Comments