A Call to Basics

What’s really important.

AKA – A Call to Basics

                I was just having some nightmares about what it would be like to be honestly fending for ourselves in a post-apocalyptic world.  Scary thing is – it could happen.  A lot of us are pampered and it would break us to go through some of the things we would have to, but a lot of us would also surprise people with the strength and resiliency we can garner.  I’m not just talking about war-torn apocalypse – I’m talking about the apocalypse of Alzheimer’s disease, financial crashes, physical paralysis, drug abuse, community violence and other abrupt life-events that affect so many of us.  We can’t say it won’t happen to us, and we can’t plan for everything – but we’ve all felt the repercussions of these things from someone in our lives.

                In thinking about what’s important in my own life I must say Relationships top the whole shebang.  Relationship with God, with Family, with Friends and even acquaintances are important.  It would probably be “easier” to survive physically without people to “tie us down,” but what sort of survival is that?  To what end would that sort of existence become?  Communities of whatever size are intrinsic to being human.

                Things are only as important as we make them unless they have to do with our survival.  I can’t think of any electronics that we would absolutely need except those medical devices – and even some of those I question.  Things like first-aid-kits that have been hobbled together, food, water… those are necessities as far as things go.  Even shelter is something that can usually be passed over. 

                I think a lot of us have passed over the basics of what being human is, and overburdened ourselves with what other things we think we need.  We must have that new iPad, this new car, that new piece of furniture or nail polish or shoes.  Maybe these things ARE causing us mortal trouble?  Maybe we’re so far away from the basics that we can no longer see the important things.  What does it really matter if we don’t catch up with the lifestyle Jay-Z or Bill Gates or our “wealthier” next door neighbor has?  Or, if we are Jay-Z or Bill Gates or Neighbor-A – why does it matter if we keep that position?

                I would challenge all of us (myself included) to evaluate what our priorities are, why they are what they are, and what good they will do us.  I ask this, because I’m seeing more and more people who have worked so very hard to establish a financial safety net and independence, only to require leaning on someone else in order to survive and accomplish daily tasks.  What are you living for?  Is it the experiences that you’ll be able to pass along to other family members?  Is it the money that you can save up for safety?  In the very end – what really matters? 

[Fully original work by Lisa Weiche, 2011.  All rights reserved.]