Living longer means you may live to a ripe old age, if you just don’t die. Is this really a blessing? Well, that depends on your state
of mind, which is essentially your own perception of your life experiences. As
aging continues, everything in your life begins to disintegrate and disappear,
whether you like it or not. The reality is that you must learn to let go of
everything. Take the example of Ann Russell Miller.
Ann Russell Miller was a
celebrated socialite from San
Francisco Saks Fifth Avenue
That
unbelievable event happened more than two decades ago, and was then widely
reported in the media across the country. Why did she make such a drastic and
incredible change in her life? She said she had a calling, a true vocation that
was hard to understand for the general public, even for the close members
of her family.
Ann
Russell Miller just wanted to live a simple lifestyle, deleting all
the trimmings of life and living, as well as all the attachments that she
wanted to let go ot.
Do
you have a lot of attachments to the material world you are living in right
now? Take a look at your garage and basement. If they are packed full and
loaded with many disposables, then probably you still have many attachments you
are unwilling to let go of. Attachments are clutters that bring memories you
are unwilling to let go of—memories that are reminiscent of your past
accomplishments.
If you
wish to be happy in your golden years, just live a simple lifestyle.
Epicurus, the
famous Greek philosopher, had this advice on how to lead a happy life: avoiding
luxuries, and living simply. The explanation is that luxurious living may make
you into a “needy” person whose happiness always depends on things that are
impermanent and easily lost. When they are lost —because nothing is
permanent—you naturally become unhappy and even depressed.
Stephen Lau
Copyright© by Stephen Lau
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