I have been hearing about extravagant weddings that make me wince. I know of vacations that create more stress than relaxation because the purpose was to be 'seen' on vacation. Our lives somehow get dictated by the kind of Facebook status we can whip up. Going to a fancy restaurant is more to 'check in' with friends than enjoy that great food and service.

I have noticed that the more people are fixated on appearances, the less they have within themselves to get to know. Once you look past that well-designed shell, there is nothing to interact with. And being fond of shoes or spas is not what I am talking about. We can enjoy the feel of silk in our clothes and delight in that exclusive piece of art we bought. That is one of the few joys of life. What is not right is when we do it only to be seen. We wear what we think other people think we should. We buy what we think should be in our possession. It must be a very stressful life when what we are is a constantly changing image of what we imagine others would like. The amusing part is that nobody outside actually cares. People are either too busy dealing with how they look themselves, or have grown above that. Either way, how you present yourself is not in their radar. There will always be that scum of society that is watching only to fault others, but that section of humanity (using the term loosely) requires another write-up!

It does not matter how much money we have. Once we are rooted to our values​, we are comfortable with who we are. And access to wealth, or cutting off from it, does not change us. Of course,​a change in our financial situation bring​s about major changes in the way we live. A reduction in income necessitates a cutback on things earlier taken for granted, and a substantial increase may bring about a lighter watch on the credit card. But it does not affect what we like, or what we want from life.

Warren Buffet, one of the world's wealthiest men, lives in the same three-bedroom house he bought early in life because it still fits his needs and wants. He lives in an average home, in spite of the wealth he has. And I still want to buy an island, in spite of my lack of wealth. :)

There is a distinct difference between buying something we want and buying something we think we should have. And understanding that difference requires a maturity that is not common. It is a maturity that comes from knowing yourself, respecting yourself, and accepting who you are. The best way to get to that state is to shut ourselves off from opinions of those who do not matter to us. We can learn to listen to our own real needs when we can disconnect with the clamour of the world telling us what we should want. When we present ourselves to the world as we are, the stark reality and uniqueness adds not only to our own worth, but also to the world's.