Today, a very anxious person expressed her concern about her house and all the stuff in it. The fear of being ransacked and all her prized possession getting stolen. And how she went all the way of taking pictures of everything inside her house from home decors to chinaware, utensils and even her bed sheets and linens before she left to make sure nothing is missing by the time she returns home. Imagine how tedious the task must be for her and how stressful it is for that person to live with such fears and worries over her material possessions.

This got me thinking and it brought to memory the many people I have encountered who buy stuff only to store them and never use them. Others I have seen put up stuff on glass showcases. Others kept stuff in storage boxes, tucked away for dust to accumulate. I have heard them say, “We’re saving them for special occasions.” Some have bought toys, put them up on display and never allow their children to play with them because “these are collector’s items,” or “they are very expensive, the kids might break them.” So let the children wait until they are old enough to take care of the toys but also old enough to not anymore have the interest to play with them.

How absurd and how totally ironic. We enjoy the feeling of having bought something but we deprive ourselves and our loved ones the joy of actually using them because of this “fantasy” of saving it for a tomorrow that is never promised. We also enjoy the feeling of freedom in buying the things we desire but we caged ourselves to it because of the fear of losing it.

Today, I have also come across a quote that says, “The most important things are not things. “ And I personally find value in it. While I respect how others prefer to be more material, I have great admiration for those who are driven on the experiential side of life.

At some point, all of us can be both material and experiential. And when we have been to both ends, it’s easier to tell the difference which side is more fulfilling. At least for my part, I can say that being material can be gratifying because it gives you a sense of accomplishment. It fuels your drive to thrive and strive for greater heights. It also gives you confidence and it boosts your self-esteem. But it also puts you in a place of “more” and “not enough.”

On the other hand, once you have reached the point of seeing the value beyond the material possessions, it puts you in a place of contentment. The sense of gratitude sinks in and you find the value in moments, in people and in relationships. You value time and how it should be spent. And this puts you in a place of serenity. You simply go with the flow. You live and enjoy each moment. You learn to let go of things that are beyond your control. You become more accepting and forgiving. You add more to your everyday life. This is a place where you find how less becomes more. The lesser you worry about everything, the more you actually live.