Can you have nothing material and still be truly happy?

didn't realise this was an old post till i just saw the best response date are you still living that way or have things changed? just curious! do you feel any different if they have?

Heya mands. Yes, I'm still living the same way today and haven't made it back home yet. At the time of writing this disussion, I was based out of Asia. Since then, I relocated to India for a year and now I live in Cairo. My goal is to be back in Australia within the next year so I can settle down once and for all. Am I happy? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It's all up and down really! Overall though, I would have to honestly say that I'm not entirely happy most of the time because I don't really feel at ease with my situation. It has noting to do with the materialistic side of it, it's more the displaced feelings than anything else. I have my Wife with me though and this is a Godsend! My interactions here are of great importance to me as well. Moreso then people may realise actually! Thanks for the response and I definitely agree you're a people person. By the way, books are one of the very first things I'll start to amass when I get home. I used to have many of them and I miss not having lots of books around.

At least you've experienced things and you've learned about yourself most people trundle through life just going with he masses work, home, get a house, have kids and then they feel disillusioned. They haven't really discovered who they are or what makes them truely happy. I think being able to take that journey is truely a blessing and makes you more appreciative of what you have in your life and what you want to achieve for yourself. At least you know your wife loves you for you and is truely happy with you no matter what the circumstance theres a lot to be said for that. I agree with you seems silly but the joy and interaction from just what is essentially a simple forum can be great i know there are some days i've been cheered up just by being here when i get get out to see my offline friends and they haven't yet managed to come see me. I don't have a huge number of books but those i do have I keep because they have special memories and I have a collection from that author. Everytime we speak seems more and more like we really are very similar people lol

Firstly, I am so glad that you are over that phase in your life and secondly I am so stupid to miss the date you posted this! Never mind. I know James wouldn't mind.

Nah, I don't mind mimpi! Especially now you have made the effort to post some Pandas! I am trying to think of something new and quirky to keep the panda spanking interest concept alive but I am yet to make up my mind. Let's see!

This has certainly been a trip down memory lane in regards to this question mimpi! At the time I had just relocated to India and my wife was not with me yet and I was feeling very strange because of the situation I was in! A lot has changed since then but I still thankfully do not place too much emphasis on materialistic things in life anymore. Personally I feel that people whose whole purpose in life is to amass material possessions and surround themselves with brands and things to show off to others, are ultimately some of the most insecure and unhappy perople of them all! It is nothing but a diversion from some of the less than desirable realities of their lives and is a sad reflection of their inner self. Sure it is nice to have beautiful and expensive things, but if it becomes your sole purpose to amass them then it is counter productive on so many levels. I agree with you entirely that true happines is intrinisc and comes from within. We will never fully appreciate anything material if we are not also happy from within. Thanks for the response.

True! Happiness comes from within.... I look forward though to also having a solid foundation in my life.... Thanks for responding!

lol..thanks for the BR....but it took quite a while in coming!

Ha ha! Yes, Iam TRYING to catch up wit all topics I have ever started! Better late than never yes? And a vry unexpeted surprise! Maybe I hold the rcord now for the LONGEST time to take to award one?

Ahh' yes, I know exactly what you are writing, your words strike true to the facts that when in the midst of attack the future can seem so far away. The lesson is to be removed and to keep working towards that goal that is beyond this very moment.

It's ALWAYS the end game that matters Gary. Always! The key is not to lose our sense of self along the way.....

What wonderful things to be saying to me Gary and I thank you for saying them. I too survive because I'm alive and because I know that I deserve better! Life is a journey and a challenging one at that. Who am I to sit idly by the side of the road and watch life go by when I can soldier forth, even in the face of adversity? It's SO cliche, but it's true that whatever doesn't kill us only makes us stronger; and I am forever inspired by the hint of promise in what my future has to offer. I know that when I reach my desired destination, the feelings of accomplishment will be oh so much sweeter because of the bitterness I've had to endure along the way. I can only hope that a part of you feels somewhat similar. Thanks again for these words and for your response.

I'm on top of my bills, yes, so that's something! But I AM a long way away from my family and I have been for 4 years now. What I've leraned over this period of time is that the creature comforts I used to have, don't really mean anything at all. They don't feed me or clothe me; they don't pick me up when I'm down or motivate me to succeed; they're inanimate objects that I mistakenly believed I just HAD to have. What you've just shared as your own needs is realistic and sensible which is great. So many of us get all caught up in materialistic pursuits and it really does mean nothing and gains nothing on the long run. Thanks for the response LittleMel. Ooooh, you're one away from 6,000 posts too! Congrats for that, I'm close myself!

thanks. I'm there now :) yeah I made that mistake too but I've learned I can't imagine working away from family so many years I'm really a home bound person I don't mind travel for vacation away from family a few weeks but that's about as long as I can get it's different when I was single I would grab the chance to work anywhere

Things have changed in many ways since I wrote this discussion, but they are alse very much the same on a number of levels. I'm still far from home for one! I find the thought of a non-materialistic existence appealing also. Eat when you're hungry, sleep when you're tired and damn the rest of it! Thanks for the comments sulynsi, it's good to see you too!

The less you have, the less you have to pay for, dust, vacuum, chase after, keep safe, worry about......... Hmmm, now we have to find out, just what is the bare minimum each person can successfully tolerate. When we moved to the Island, rural from urban, I thought, what is it that I can't give up about the big city? Nothing came to mind. It stll hasn't 8 years later. The only things I do miss are my family and being able to walk to work!

It's an interesting lesson you learned here and you got to experience it because you took the steps needed! So many people are so afraid to step outside of their comfort zones, so never get to appreciate things like this. A while back I was pretty much forced into a non-materialistic existence and it's the best thing that could've happened to me! Would I have chosen it freely? Maybe not, I'm unsure. When I do get back hime and start to settle. I'll appreciate all I have so much more now. Living an island life sounds pretty good to me by the way! I hope you get to talk with your family regularly too.

Time machine still active and going strong.

I feel as if I am in a time machine today! I agree that frame of mind is the key element here, no question. If I were to compare the mindset of today to the one back then, I am still not focused on materialistic pursuits in any way and I am also far more positive and optimistic now than I was at the time. This discussion was posted at a very difficult period of my life and the worst of it is definitely behind me now. The experiences of that "era" and the time before and after it have made me appreciate what I have today far more than the person of old would have. Thanks for the response alok.

Yes! I am quite flabbergasted to be honest! It seems that given the other two discussions I started PLUS this one, I may have bitten off more than I can chew today! Oh my goodness. I may have to try to catch up tomorrow.

We got all our traveling out when I was younger Seems by the times I was 10 I had been in every state in the United States but Alaska and Hawaii. So I am kinda traveled out but have traveled a bit since then. So I love staying at home since I am what they call a Homebody..but I do like the occasional adventure on occasion. You have done good with your life found something your good at and even though it might have it's ups and downs it has it's worth and something that you can look back on and tell the kids or grandkids someday.

Very true! I learnt of this in ways that weren't exactly nice at all, but it was one heck of a valuable lesson for me! An easy life filled with materialistic possessions means absolutely nothing if you're unhappy. I know many people that seem to spend their entire lives trying to "keep up with the Joneses" or to give this impression of wealth etc and it's just so pointless. If they put as much effort into growing themselves as they do all this other crap, life would be so much more fruitful. All those things would probably follow anyway and they'd appreciate them so much more. As for not being able to permanantly place myself over the last few years, yes, this hasn't been too nice for me at all, but again, it's a means to an end and my time will come where my Wife and I will be settled once and for all and so grateful for it! Thanks for the response Becca.

I will have some interesting tales to share in the end I guess! You'd better get your act together and visit Alaska and Hawaii too.

but dont you think the desire to own a panda is materialistic.?

Not at all! It is not desire that caused me to own my Panda riyasam..... It was my DESTINY!

Panda Spanking isn;t materialistic riyasam! It is a natural and holistic spiritual journey into the depths of insanity! The advantage of this journey though is that we may always step back into reality whenever we choose so the effects are never permanent. I understand totally that you wish to provide your husband and kids with the best of everything and many of us would feel exactly the same way. It is only when your pursuit of such desires overshadows the emotional foundations of your love for them that it can become a problem. Thanks you for the response.

Yes, this is very true, yet many of us get caught up in the materialstic aspects of living and end up craving things that don't really matter at all. The main problem with this type of attitude is that it's a cycle that can never be broken until the person learns what truly important. The more they have the more they want and on it goes..... Basic needs like the ones you have mentioned are in essence the foundations for survival. To have and want more isn't a necessity at all, but many people think otherwise and push themsleves negatively to achieve certain things. To let go of a materialistic mindset is actually very empowering! I do enjoy my creature comforts, but I also realise that they aren't the be all and end all of everything. Thanks for the response kalav.

Yes I guess it would. It's amazing how quickly I have come to realise how insignificant the material things I owned in my life really were. The things I treasure most now are a few photographs! Thanks for responding.

Great response and great advice! It's not just money that doesn't buy happiness..... Thanks for responding.

"Mental suitcase" is an interesting way to put it. I guess all of us have one of those! It is just that not all of us are willing to admit it! Well I am happy to say that this "dumb a@@" lol, now has enough stuff for maybe one and a half suitcases now! Good luck finding a suitcase for your garden; and I wish you even MORE luck finding someone to carry it for you once you do! Thanks for responding.

All sounds good to me! I am someone who seems to embrace constant change myself. Sometimes it is actually difficult to really know where my physical home is anymore! As long as my wife and I are together then I do feel centred though so all is good! The train idea sounds excellent and you could always have a seperate open carriage with a moving garden as well! Think outside the box woman! lol.

Hehehe, yeah, I never thought about who would carry my suitcase for me! I would love to live on a train and just keep moving all the time, but this conflicts with my love of gardening. I have decided that what I would really like to do is to buy a great old house to live in for a few years, remodeling it and doing some landscaping, then sell it and move on to another one. That way I get to keep on the move, which I love so much, and also do the gardening and other domestic stuff that I love equally as well!

I appreciate these kind words very much! Interestingly enough, I'm STILL living in a similar fashion today because my work has taken me to yet another country. (This is actually the 3rd country away from home since I wrote this discussion) First and foremost though, what you've shared in your second comment is right on the money. It's not material things that matter at all, but love, compassion, respect and gratitude that matter. Regardless of how difficult times may get and no matter what material things we own, we are always masters of our emotions and our mindsets. Thanks for the response pratyush and you keep smiling always too!

Ya I read your profile. It must be so difficult buddy. I had read once, "the one who laughs the most has the most sorrow in his heart". I really wish from the bottom of my heart, may you not be the one... Maybe its God's wish for you to travel around the globe. Hope he gives you the energy and heart to do your traveling. Saw your pic, keep smiling buddy...

Oh yeah and about material things. I don't know whether I'll be happy without them or not. But I do know that I don't need them to be happy. Happiness is a very special thing for me. And nothing that can be bought by anybody will make me as happy as real happiness would and that comes from emotions, love and feelings...

Maybe people were happier back then ronaldinu because the foundations to incite greed were nowhere near as strong? Money and possess change people, no question! I agree that happiness in spirit is so much more rewarding than materialistic pursuits of happiness. Thanks for the response.

Yes I do agree that it all comes down to a mindset. I guess I've been camping for some time now too! "Then we go home" is the most poignant aspect of it all for me here because this is what's actually eluded me for so long now. Once I DO get home, I'll feel far more at ease I'm sure, but as for now, as happy as I may try to make myself on a day-to-day basis, I don't always succeed at it because I do feel somewhat displaced a lot of the time. It's all a means to and end though and I just have to remain patient. Thanks for the comments royal.

No novel's at my end hiddenwing! lol. Yes, I do have a computer at least and that's an absolute Godsend. I have a few books too, but not many. I used to own over 2,500 books and havd a really good library in place, but I had to leave all that behind when I started travelling so much. One of my goals when I settle back home is to start a whole new library as I miss having a lot of books around. It's true though, we DON'T need a lot of material things to be happy and I've definitely come to learn this over the last few years. Thanks for the response.

Nothing awakens us more than being in circumstances where we may witness how little others have or how harsh their lives are compared to ours. As people living in more structured or developed countries, we tend to get all worked up or depressed about things that are actually unimportant or minor. It is only when we see others like I have described; or step out of our comfort zones that we truly start to appreciate what IS actually important in life. Relationships are a different matter altogether! A loving relationship does not come under the category of "material" at all; and I too would be loathe to ever make a decision that involved me having to sacrifice my own. Possessions are neither here nor there for me these days and I am grateful for having gained this attitude; but my relationship is what gives me strength and actually HELPS me to realize how unimportant materialistic pursuits are. So to sacrific this would be disastrous in my opionion! There is always a happy medium to be found though and we may have to search high and low to find it; but it IS there. Thanks for the respons SaintAnne and I am happy to hear that you were referring to these unhappy times in the past tense.

This is a good way to look at it Michael. Having lots of possessions just causes clutter! Very, very true. I have changed countries four times in the last four years so I can relate to the moving part big time! lol. I do have a steady job though and it is this job that has caused all these moves actually. At least each and every time allows us to have a new beginning! Thanks for the response.

Double the fun Michael? I have replied to the second one.....