As much as I hate to admit it, I have been known to lose a material “thing” now and then—a diamond earring (lost twice and found twice), all of my earrings for that matter (well, usually one so the pair is no longer), a watch, a leather jacket, my wallet (a few times, and returned each time)….The list goes on. Most recently, I lost my IPad2.
Mind you, I have worked quite hard on being mindful, grounded and in charge of my belongings. But this time, my watchfulness was overrun by my exhaustion, having just lectured in Montreal, sleep deprived, I was now traveling on to Germany. Somehow and somewhere between the London and Dusseldorf airports, I lost my beloved computer gadget. Perhaps I left it on my seat; perhaps in the waiting area; perhaps…..I was sure I had left it on my seat, but the airline staff swore that an Ipad was not found. They were actually quite rude, if I might add. “Are they telling the truth?” I wondered. 
My thoughts spiraled into negativity– berating myself for losing an expensive item (again); hurt that anyone could be so mean to me, especially those in the service field; and angry at the person who stole my Ipad (how could they!). I thought, “How can people be so mean? Can anyone be trusted? ” Just as the thought, “People suck,” started to form, I stopped myself. After all, I am a spiritual teacher, and spiritual people aren’t supposed to hate people.
Truthfully, I stopped myself because I couldn’t help noticing that my friend was speaking to the airline and “lost property” staff on my behalf in German, and lovingly consoling me. I stopped because when we arrived at her home, her family and our friends empathized and supported me. I stopped because in response to hearing my news, my father wrote me an email reminding me that the Ipad was only a material possession, not the people in my life who love me.
And when I stopped, I noticed that without my Ipad, I could not withdraw into my world of journal reading and scrabble playing. Instead, I happily engaged with people and enjoyed walks in nature. How strange, I contemplated, that even though I had only possessed the gadget for a couple of months, I had quickly acquired an attachment to it. How often did I choose the computer over people?
Is it true for you?
What are you attached to? How much do you appreciate those you love? How often do you experience the magic of nature? And how long can you wait before you pick up your smart phone, laptop or other fancy computer “thing?” Would you feel withdrawal if you had to be without your gadgets?
For me, I lost my property, but I found love and a lot of meaning.
In these difficult economic times, when material “things” have questionable worth, perhaps you can take a moment to be present in your life. Love. Breathe. Laugh. Not forever…just for a moment every now and again.
PHOTO (cc); Flickr / Josh Liba
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