Look for the Bare Necessities the simple Bare Necessities

I grabbed my keys, cell phone, and ipod and I went for a walk in the crisp afternoon air, I took my usual route down to the park a few blocks from my house, one loop around the park and out the far exit. As I walked I jammed out to Disney Mania 3 on shuffle and learned an interesting lesson.

About half way though my route the song “The Bare Necessities” you know the one – ol' Beleu extolling the virtues of life in the jungle to young Moblie and being happy with the bare necessities and forgetting about your worry and strife. In essence finding joy in your world.

In stark contrast the next song that started was “Part of You World” in which the Princess Arial sings about having everything – gizmos and gadgets a plenty, woozits and whatits galore – and yet still wanting more.

It made me wonder if after Arial got what she wanted – a life out of the sea, married to Prince Eric – was she really happy or did she still want more? Was life on land all she imagined it to be? Did she miss her carefree days with Flounder? Did she miss her family?

That's the problem with always wanting more – you have to sacrifice something to get it. Is the sacrifice worth it? For somethings I'd say yes. Wanting more isn't inherently bad, it pushes us to improve and be better people, but if in the wanting and dreaming and scheming to get more you can't see the amazing things right in front of you – you sacrifice being happy in the hear and now - I'd say the sacrifice is to much.

This year I'm going to focus on “The Bare Necessities” and being happy with the circumstances and life I have been blessed with in the here and now. I have an amazing life that I sometimes take for granted. I still have dreams and wish things were different but what I have is enough, and that's good enough for now