Materialism, Luxury...What happens when they're gone?

Hey fam, friends and new readers:

So for the last couple of days I've been wondering how to broach the next subject - materialism; and its been taxing because honestly I don't know how much of me I really wanna share or moreover how honest I'm ready to be with myself (right,right d-e-e-p!)!


Materials

1. Consisting of matter; not spiritual; corporeal; physical; as, material substance or bodies. [1913 Webster]


On New Year's Eve I missed my flight back to Korea due to an ice storm and my inability to properly navigate my way through it to Dulles Airport and I don't know about you but there's so many route on which to get to Dulles that I swear every time I go there it seems as if I'm using a different route each time. So after missing my flight and spending an hour or so with three ticket agents playing find Derek an available seat I had a new itinerary in-hand.

I had just dropped off a rental at Alamo so I had to go right back and pick up another; I picked up the car and made my way back to my cousin's place.

A's house was full with her sister's kids, my adorable yet rambunctious little cousins who had come for a visit and a New Year Eve celebration. We had lunch together and I played a few games with them but after such a disorienting day I seriously needed a nap. Hours passed and I didn't want to get out of bed but I needed to. I prepared the kids some snacks and then rang my friend Antoine to ensure we were still on for New Year's Eve Church Service.

Now in all my years, 31 to be exact, I don't think I've ever spent a NYE in church, and if I did, I don't remember it. I have always considered it a bit lame and slightly immoral to go to church and then directly afterwards head off to the nightclub and throw back cocktails. But this year, I felt an overwhelming desire to go to the House of the Lord (church) and share in thankfulness with others. In the month of December alone I was blessed beyond measure so, how could I not go.

Around 8 o'clock I went out to the rental car, it was cold out and a bit damp but I had a warm tingly feeling going on in me,I was filled with an air of happiness; as I reached the car, I noticed the trunk was slight ajar, and sadly in a millisecond my tingly sensation vanished and the cold in the air filled my lungs and an air of concern and dread engulf me. I opened the trunk and my Louie duffel bag, filled with my possessions and recently purchased items I had bought for my friends in Korea were gone.

Talk about the straw breaking the camel's back!

Or at least it should have been, but surprisingly I was calm. I did indeed call the police and made a report however I knew deep down there was next to no chance that I would ever see my items again. So, I sucked it up, dressed and went to church.

On my drive into the district, I broke down, I'm not sure if it was because my items were stolen, or I was happy that even with all I had been through that day, everything was still okay. I had my health, my sanity, a loving family and a Champagne Toast to attend after church so... why cry over split milk?

My thoughts were as such, life has always been good to me, so why in this moment should I not see the brighter side. I've always found it is best to be thankful - even during the bleakest hours.

At times it's a daunting task but its a task worth taking.

One month later and Life is good:

My cousin is in the process of posting me a coat and I have not been without true necessities (housing, warmth, nutrition, friendship, love..) so even if I don't have my Louie duffel bag, Ralph Lauren winter coat, Antik denim jeans or my favorite brown sugar flavored instant oatmeal packets - life is still DAMN GOOD!

Thus I've been meditating on this: When did I decide that material things were overly important to my life and when did I decide to let that notion go?

As I think back, I grew up in a middle class household, at times we had and others times we did not, yet I don't ever truly remember going without. My mom never put emphasis on material possession that's just not who she is. She was all about sharing and giving. My grandmother is a very giving woman, who places emphasis on hard work and saving. (She always say, "Dee if you just put away five - ten dollars a week you're saving something.") yet she also believed that if you're going to buy something it should be of the highest quality.

These two women are key to how I view material possessions, how I relate to them, how important they are to me, etc.

I'm a hedonist but I'm also giving.

I like finery, but I don't mind purchasing at a consignment shop (as long as it vintage labeled).

I like luxury hotels and trips, but I been on bus trip and stayed in a few love motels and eh, they're not all that bad.

I love brand new convertibles yet public transportation gets the job done.

I love gourmet foods, but do I mind eating at a hole in the wall, hell nawl -- I love to eat.


So does all this make me materialistic? Sorta.

Is that a bad thing? I don't think so.

Do I believe the items I own define who I am? To an extent yes.


A few things I've learned about myself in my journey thus far as I relate to material possessions.

I can definitely do without the creature comforts and be okay.

Less is more.

I'm always willing to help those who have less than I.

I can willingly lavish myself with items of my own choosing and not feel wrong for doing so, I'm deserving.

I'm no gilded lily, and there's no self-loathing tucked away


I just like what I like.


PEACE

Derek