Valentines Day

You must be wondering what is a guy like me talking half the time about spiritual stuff has anything to do with Valentines Day. Well I can't help it if the four ladies in my life keep reminding me of the event. The two little girls asked me yesterday evening if my surprise gift to them was if I was going to paint their toe nails in the night when they were asleep! That was after their mom told them I was responsible for giving her the funky nail work after her visit to the nail shop. Anyway that is not the subject of my thoughts. The matter is the Lady wishes for little twinkling stones. Yes diamonds. So queston is should we attach so much value to these things. Attractive they may be but we do not have to own everything that we like or find attractive. Otherwise, we are going to become pretty depress people most of the time. The Yoga Master in his new year message said to travel light and to expand the mind. The Vedanta Teacher says the moment you possess something, it possesses you.
We have unwittingly become the victims of consumerism through the persuasive glamourous advertisements we are incessantly bombarded with. The women love clothes and things which make them pretty especially the ones which sparkle. The guys love cars. Great toys to distract ourselves with. But too high a price for the transient pleasures they bring. But alas that is not going to stop us from thinking of owning all that stuff.
The question is what do we do? Observe the people who are ostentiously acquisitive, are they happy. Do they have your admiration? Be careful how you answer this. Yes do you admire them from your respect of their values and not your envy of what they have.
For me, I will just give the Lady a cheque and let her decide what she wants to do with the money. See if she spends it wisely.