Only For Now...

Money is such an echoing word in our society. It seems that people will do just about anything for just a little more green in their pockets. Not to say that having money is a bad thing. I myself do enjoy spending, but then who doesn't? No, having money or wanting to have money is not a bad thing, it's the attempt to buy happiness which is bad. Is it important to have enough money to survive? Yes. Is it important to have enough money to live comfortably? Not nearly so much as the importance of happiness. No amount of money in the world can buy you true happiness. Sure, a nice car, an expensive dress, priceless jewelry, those things may buy you temporary happiness, but that joy is very temporary. For my birthday this past year Sohneya gave me a heart-shaped necklace made of Swarovski crystal. I can't even begin to describe to you how happy I was when I first saw it; it was the first birthday present my love ever gave me, and not only that but it came straight from his heart. It's not worth nearly as much as something made of diamonds, or rubies, or any other precious stone, but that doesn't mean it has any less value to me. If he had casually walked into a jewelry store and picked out the most expensive necklace there simply because it was the most expensive it wouldn't mean nearly as much as my necklace to me because of the fact he didn't put his heart into it. Would it make me happy when he gave it to me? In a way, yes. Everyone enjoys getting nice things. But it wouldn't give me that deep sense of love, happiness, peace, and contentedness I got when he gave me my crystal necklace. Eventually it would end up in a jewelry box, almost completely forgotten. I would probably never think of it, it would just be another object in my home. But the crystal necklace he gave me will always have that special meaning to me. It will never be just another object, it will always be the first birthday present he ever gave me, a symbol of his love for me, and every time I look at it I can't help but smile because I think of this. Every time him and I give each other gifts that come from our hearts it will create a love-filled memory which will give the gifts so much more meaning than they could ever have otherwise. Don't try to buy happiness, because temporary happiness may be able to be bought, but true happiness, the kind that spans lifetimes cannot be bought by any amount of money. If Sohneya gave me a bracelet made of braided grass that he had put time and thought and love into it would mean so much more to me than something he casually picked out in a jewelry store. Don't think that by buying someone expensive gifts you can win their heart, because a heart can't be bought. Don't think that you can buy yourself or the people you love into happiness, because you can't. Don't think that buying an expensive house buys you a home, because a home cannot be bought, only made. Don't think that love comes at a price, because it doesn't. Don't think that money will make all your problems and worries vanish, because it won't. Money is an ephemerality, and so are the things you buy with it unless you put thought and meaning into the things you buy. Don't think that by simply buying someone a nice house, nice car, and other nice things you are providing for them, because that's not true. When you create a home for someone, when you get them gifts that come from your heart, when you give them love, then you are truly providing for them. The next time you talk with a loved one think of the happiness that comes along with it. Remember, money is ephemeral, love is eternal.