Are you your own slave?

"No!" It was a shout delivered as a whisper. This had gone on long enough! What did I want? What was it that I sought so? Would I identify it when I saw it…or had I fallen completely, of course... maybe the chase had become my destination? Constantly in a hurry, always late for something, it almost felt as if I’d been racing through endless miles of life’s bureaucratic red tape…maybe it was the rush, or the money? Life had to be more than that right. Who am I kidding it is always about money. Women have sold their bodies, children stolen and men killed, for a handful of credits; who was I to think I was removed from the timeworn quest for the almighty silver. Money aside though, I sought something more supreme. Something near imperial, titled, divine. Yeah right! What could top money in the hierarchy of supremacy? Relevance; yes that was what I sought. Like every other person, I wanted to matter. No, I needed to matter. In a perfect world that would probably be of essence; you know, a world that cared for my petty insignificant opinion.
 
Greatness rewarded perfection. Power, wealth, prestige and position, the world had limited the definition of greatness to these four words. The pursuit of it only left in its wake the death of families, lifelong friendships, not to mention self-will, but no one called it homicide. Instead, it birthed a less desirable juvenile- discontentment- an insatiable lust for more. By rushing through life, I had been subtly devaluing those around me, rarely allowing myself the privilege of fully participating and embracing the happenings before me.

Discontentment- he comes, he lingers and he robs you of your years. Gradually at first, slipping them past you with near precision that only the devil is capable, then all at once. He eats at them, keeping at it until little is left to call your own. He welcomes you, opening his arms in mockery, unable to contain himself at yet another conquest. At first, you attempt to shake him off, regularly trying to convince yourself that you are happy; content with what you have, the person that you are, and the people in your life. Slowly, you succumb to him. You embrace him.

Follow The Standard on