I think that in our consumer society, we often forget that accumulating stuff can really be a burden.  I have never been a collector.  And that is not a judgment on those that do collect.  That has an important purpose for many people.  It just doesn’t for me.  Except photos, but then again I feel that I need them to pass on to the next generation.  One does not need the amount of photos I have, but how to decide which ones to get rid of can be impossible.  This is the conundrum.  

But if one thinks in non-material ways, there are some needs I was thinking about that can and do make a significant difference in our lives.  In my opinion, we need people in our lives that support us emotionally and physically.  Family can provide these needs, but it is not a given.  Good friends are of immeasurable value in one’s life.  But they must be close friends to help you in times of sadness, despair and also to share one’s joy.  We need people to support us in difficult situations and to share our happiness.  

In contrast to these needs, there are wants.  And not all wants are created equal.  We all have needs.  The basic ones are food, clothing and shelter.  Beyond that, we may need skills to get a job, and counseling to get through the challenging times in our lives.  But wants are different in significant ways.

Wanting a new car, for example, is not a need.  Wanting a vehicle to get to work may be a need, if it is essential or a requirement for a job. A person that doesn’t need a vehicle in their job, might need to find another way to get to work, such as a bus, a train or even a family member or a friend.  I am not trying to say that these wants aren’t important, or that they are frivolous.  It’s just that a person can find ways to do things that solve a problem creatively, if the need is there.  That is being resourceful.

I remember quite clearly, early in my marriage, learning the real differences between wants and needs.  I already knew the concept and had a clear knowledge of the difference between them.  Making those practical decisions was something I learned quickly because of my upbringing.  We always had more than enough but I easily understood that we were blessed with more than we needed.

That doesn’t mean that I don’t want things.  I was just gifted with parents who taught by example.  Unfortunately, this is not true for everyone.  But,  my point is that this is not something everyone grows up learning.  And maybe this should be taught in schools, so that children don’t grow up feeling that they need so many things in their lives to be happy.

Beyond the material things, what people need the most is to be cared for and loved.  And if you have that in your life you are rich indeed.  The worst thing, in this material world, is not being poor.  It is not being loved.  What everyone needs is caring people in their lives.  Without that, we are poor indeed.  Want what you need.  Beyond food, clothing and shelter, we also need love.  And that is the most important thing of all.