In a world of want, you are not lacking

Earlier this week, we found out my aunt, who lives in the Philippines, became an inpatient in the hospital due to a medical emergency in which she would receive immediate surgery. The entire procedure, including her hospital stay and medications, would total over two hundred thousand pesos – in USD, that equals around four thousand dollars or more. PhilHealth, the health insurance every Filipino is mandatorily enrolled in, covers basic expenses for those who are employed, self-employed or not employed. While this service covers basic needs, it does not cover all medical expenses. In most cases, members must pay out of pocket for a large portion of costs, burdening families with excessive amounts of debt that can take months or even years to pay back.

Reflecting on this circumstance, I began thinking not only about how my aunt would be financially burdened, but also about how much we often fail to appreciate the “little things.” I put “little things” in quotes because something like health insurance in America isn’t little at all – it’s actually a huge aspect of living here. Especially now, as cuts to Medicare and Medicaid were legislated in July, I can’t help but recognize how fortunate I am. Personally, I can’t say that I lack. I know that when I go to the hospital, I have insurance that will cover me. I know that when I go to the grocery store, I don’t have to think twice about what’s on my credit card. I know that when I go to class, I’m receiving an education that, to me, is worth every penny. What I know is that I am not lacking anything.

We live in a world that loves overconsumption – clothes, food, cosmetics, electronics and so much more – and we often fail to appreciate what we already have and realize that it’s more than enough. We all have things saved on our “wishlists” or “buy later” tabs; we all have things we want or feel we need. But if you take the time to reflect on what you already have, you realize that the things you think you “need” are really just “wants.” This makes it more revealing of the influences that have led us to believe we are lacking anything at all.

There are so many things we take for granted every single day – even the breath we take in the morning, while someone else relies on a ventilator to breathe in a hospital somewhere.

The walk to school in the mornings through the quad – are we ever just sitting around appreciating nature, or are we simply passing it by? During the walk to class, are we appreciating the fact that we are able to receive an education without being discriminated against because of our race, beliefs or gender, while a girl across the world is not legally allowed to go to school? Sometimes in class, I just sit back and take the moment in: I’m actively learning in a class taught by someone who went through an immense amount of schooling just to teach me in this moment.

Some may even question: why practice gratitude at all? Why not just buy whatever I want, whenever I want it? Many answers could be assumed, but personally, mine is that money and materialism will never fulfill the human soul. It doesn’t matter how much money you make, what kind of car you drive or how much you spend on things you don’t truly need. What fulfills the human soul are the things you cannot buy – your family, friends and memories – and ultimately, a good life isn’t about what you have but about who you are.

Here are some reflection questions:

1. Who are you without the titles behind your name?

2. Who are you outside of campus, your job or your career?

3. If everything were stripped away from you, would you be content with who you are and the people who surround you?