What is living large, or living the high life, anyway?
The Collins Dictionary defines these phrases as "an exciting and luxurious way of living that involves a gret deal of entertainment,going to parties, and eating lots of good and expensive food." But, I think this definition is very subjective.
If you were to ask a Buddhist monk if he thought that going to parties and eating expensive food was "living the high life," I quite think he'd disagree. For him, no doubt, it'd mean living an enlightened life. For the frog (or human) who loves to travel, it'd mean having the finanial resources, and the time, to see the world. You get the idea. For every individual, there will will an equally individual viewpoint of what it means to live large.
Can a little green frog, like me, live large? The answer is YES! For most frogs I know, living large means having enough fat juicy bugs and worms to eat every day; clean, fresh water to live in, and an environment free from pollutants and deforestation. We're pretty simple creatures. For me, personally, I see those things as requirements for life, not so much as the "extas" necessary to feel that I'm "living the high life." To that very important list, I've added my special extras: being able to do a little traveling, writing good quality books for human kids, having soothing music to listen to, and having the ability to appreciate the beauty of the world around me. When I examine my list of "things" that I believe make for "living large," I find that I already possess of them them. I already have everything I need for my perfect life. And that's a pretty great feeling. rich!
But what about you? Have you ever thought about what it is that makes "the good life" true for you? Is it wealth...or is it the love of family and friends? Perhaps it's the laughter of children at play, or viewing inspiring works of art. Still, for others, it might be listening to classical music or resting in the shade of a leafy oak tree. When you come right down it, the things that truly make for a good life; those things that enrich the mind and the spirit...they're all readily available to all of us. And most of them are free. Sure, stylish clothes, parties, and fine dining in expensive restaurants are nice, but they aren't the things, when all is said and done, that we'll hold as cherished memories.
The next time you find yourself being a little envious of those jet-setting celebrities, just remember, that if their fame and fortune were gone in an instant, they'd be left with little more than a large pile of useless clothes, and an even bigger pile of unpaid bills. We all want to taste the "high life," myself included. But it's not the stuff that sustains us. It's not the stuff for a healthy and balanced life. Looking beyond the actual "stuff" that money buys, is where we will find our greatest joys and pleasures. I am truly grateful for all the "wealth" I have in my life; my friends and family, their love and admiration, a comfy and safe lily pad, and lots of tasty bugs and worms to dine on each and every day. For, you see, I am indeed a very rich frog. And I don't even need to wear a tuxedo!
The Collins Dictionary defines these phrases as "an exciting and luxurious way of living that involves a gret deal of entertainment,going to parties, and eating lots of good and expensive food." But, I think this definition is very subjective.
If you were to ask a Buddhist monk if he thought that going to parties and eating expensive food was "living the high life," I quite think he'd disagree. For him, no doubt, it'd mean living an enlightened life. For the frog (or human) who loves to travel, it'd mean having the finanial resources, and the time, to see the world. You get the idea. For every individual, there will will an equally individual viewpoint of what it means to live large.
Can a little green frog, like me, live large? The answer is YES! For most frogs I know, living large means having enough fat juicy bugs and worms to eat every day; clean, fresh water to live in, and an environment free from pollutants and deforestation. We're pretty simple creatures. For me, personally, I see those things as requirements for life, not so much as the "extas" necessary to feel that I'm "living the high life." To that very important list, I've added my special extras: being able to do a little traveling, writing good quality books for human kids, having soothing music to listen to, and having the ability to appreciate the beauty of the world around me. When I examine my list of "things" that I believe make for "living large," I find that I already possess of them them. I already have everything I need for my perfect life. And that's a pretty great feeling. rich!
But what about you? Have you ever thought about what it is that makes "the good life" true for you? Is it wealth...or is it the love of family and friends? Perhaps it's the laughter of children at play, or viewing inspiring works of art. Still, for others, it might be listening to classical music or resting in the shade of a leafy oak tree. When you come right down it, the things that truly make for a good life; those things that enrich the mind and the spirit...they're all readily available to all of us. And most of them are free. Sure, stylish clothes, parties, and fine dining in expensive restaurants are nice, but they aren't the things, when all is said and done, that we'll hold as cherished memories.
The next time you find yourself being a little envious of those jet-setting celebrities, just remember, that if their fame and fortune were gone in an instant, they'd be left with little more than a large pile of useless clothes, and an even bigger pile of unpaid bills. We all want to taste the "high life," myself included. But it's not the stuff that sustains us. It's not the stuff for a healthy and balanced life. Looking beyond the actual "stuff" that money buys, is where we will find our greatest joys and pleasures. I am truly grateful for all the "wealth" I have in my life; my friends and family, their love and admiration, a comfy and safe lily pad, and lots of tasty bugs and worms to dine on each and every day. For, you see, I am indeed a very rich frog. And I don't even need to wear a tuxedo!
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