I know I say this all the time, but movies- especially animated ones- can teach you really deep things. All day today, I've had this song stuck in my head. "The Bare Necessities" from Disney's The Jungle Book. I'm sure you've heard it at least once in your life. And admit it- its a great song!
In the movie, Baloo the bear sings this song to Mowgli as he teaches him that all that's needed in life is the bare ("bear?") minimum. Now couldn't we all take a page out of Papa Bear's book as well?
Think about your life for a minute. Since the time you wake up to the time you go to bed at night, what occupies your mind the most? Seriously, think. Work? School? Chores? Money? Friends? Maybe your Facebook? Twitter? Movies, music, TV? The question is, who could possibly think of enough things? It's true, we all have really jam-packed lives with little time for rumination.
Okay, first stanza:
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life
Keep it simple! Unclutter your mind and focus on what's truly important! Stop staring at your static Facebook or Twitter news feed and give an old friend a call instead! Pursue your hobbies! You don't need the TV, computer or iPod (heck, even the microwave or fridge) to keep yourself happy! People in disadvantaged countries have no idea what these things are and yet they have ways to stay happy.
The big iPhone 5 launch last month reminded me how materialistic and fickle we've become today. We drool over new pieces of technology like our lives depend on them. No matter how much we get, we just want more. And more. And more. Bigger. Better. Faster. Stronger. That's human nature and I admit I suffer from it too. But do we really need these? Will they make our lives better? Maybe, but only until the next model comes out. Then the whole cycle begins again.
Today, I would like you to try this exercise I read somewhere about:
1. Make a list of 25 things that you find important or couldn't live without. Anything like your clothes, cell phone, laptop, books, whatever. Just put it all in there.
2. After that, imagine that there is an earthquake warning and the Government has told you to evacuate your homes in time. The hitch? You can only take 15 items from your list with you. Cut off 10 items you can live without.
3. Now you have 15 things that are important. Or are they? There is suddenly a fire in your home and you have to leave 5 things behind! Cut off another 5 items from the list.
4. You are now left with 10 super-important items. But BOOM! A war forces you to run away, taking only 5 items! Gasp! Cut off 5 items from your list, you poor unfortunate soul.
5. See where I'm getting? No, I don't mean to say that you are a very unlucky person. You now have 5 ultra-super-important items that honestly you would die without. And those 5 are all you need! Believe me, that really works.
You may have everything you have ever dreamed of, and that's awesome, but you have to remain grounded and remember that God can take back everything he's ever given you in a flash. Be thankful, be happy and remember that material objects may make you happy now, but they're the last thing you'll need in the time of crisis. All you need is the bare necessities!
And don't spend your time lookin' around
For something you want that can't be found
When you find out you can live without it
And go along not thinkin' about it
I'll tell you something true
The bare necessities of life will come to you
In the movie, Baloo the bear sings this song to Mowgli as he teaches him that all that's needed in life is the bare ("bear?") minimum. Now couldn't we all take a page out of Papa Bear's book as well?
Think about your life for a minute. Since the time you wake up to the time you go to bed at night, what occupies your mind the most? Seriously, think. Work? School? Chores? Money? Friends? Maybe your Facebook? Twitter? Movies, music, TV? The question is, who could possibly think of enough things? It's true, we all have really jam-packed lives with little time for rumination.
Okay, first stanza:
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life
Keep it simple! Unclutter your mind and focus on what's truly important! Stop staring at your static Facebook or Twitter news feed and give an old friend a call instead! Pursue your hobbies! You don't need the TV, computer or iPod (heck, even the microwave or fridge) to keep yourself happy! People in disadvantaged countries have no idea what these things are and yet they have ways to stay happy.
The big iPhone 5 launch last month reminded me how materialistic and fickle we've become today. We drool over new pieces of technology like our lives depend on them. No matter how much we get, we just want more. And more. And more. Bigger. Better. Faster. Stronger. That's human nature and I admit I suffer from it too. But do we really need these? Will they make our lives better? Maybe, but only until the next model comes out. Then the whole cycle begins again.
Today, I would like you to try this exercise I read somewhere about:
1. Make a list of 25 things that you find important or couldn't live without. Anything like your clothes, cell phone, laptop, books, whatever. Just put it all in there.
2. After that, imagine that there is an earthquake warning and the Government has told you to evacuate your homes in time. The hitch? You can only take 15 items from your list with you. Cut off 10 items you can live without.
3. Now you have 15 things that are important. Or are they? There is suddenly a fire in your home and you have to leave 5 things behind! Cut off another 5 items from the list.
4. You are now left with 10 super-important items. But BOOM! A war forces you to run away, taking only 5 items! Gasp! Cut off 5 items from your list, you poor unfortunate soul.
5. See where I'm getting? No, I don't mean to say that you are a very unlucky person. You now have 5 ultra-super-important items that honestly you would die without. And those 5 are all you need! Believe me, that really works.
You may have everything you have ever dreamed of, and that's awesome, but you have to remain grounded and remember that God can take back everything he's ever given you in a flash. Be thankful, be happy and remember that material objects may make you happy now, but they're the last thing you'll need in the time of crisis. All you need is the bare necessities!
And don't spend your time lookin' around
For something you want that can't be found
When you find out you can live without it
And go along not thinkin' about it
I'll tell you something true
The bare necessities of life will come to you