We demonize runaway consumption because it’s the need for new and more at its most obvious. But this greed pervades all aspects of life. We all always seeking new people, experiences, etc. It’s good to expand our horizons but pursuing novelty can get addictive because like taking a drug, something we never tried before is always glorious the first, second and perhaps third time. The process of getting something new feels good because during that time, the object of your desire works hard to seduce you. After we have it for a while, we often start to enjoy it less and less, to the point we have to go after something else to feel happy again and the cycle repeats.
The mistake is believing that once you get something good, you can idly bask in the pleasure. No, it’s a continuous give and take. You have to notice how the leafs catch the light down your favourite trail. You have to notice the shy notes of a good drink tiptoeing down your tongue. That’s how you keep special moments feeling special. We are told to appreciate what we have because nothing lasts forever. That makes it seem sources of joy, from people to hobbies, disappear on their own but in many cases, we put in little effort and pushed them away.
It’s exciting to move from flower to flower, getting close enough to smell their different scents. But sometimes it’s worth choosing one to stick around, to water it, shield it from the sun and watch it grow.
7 months ago