If I Only Had a Brain
“I could wile away the hours
Conferrin' with the flowers
Consultin' with the rain
And my head I'd be scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.”
We are experts at figuring out how much better things would be “if only.” I can’t count the number of times I’ve made the excuse that I didn’t have what I needed. Whether it was the right program on my computer, the people skills to make new friends, the resources to write a paper, or enough money to buy the super cool thing calling my name at Walmart.
When there is always something new to set our sights on and the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, it is difficult to realize the difference between “need” and “want.” There are many things I want.
-A three door, navy blue pick-em-up-truck.
-A bloodhound puppy named Copper.
-A printer that doesn’t think pink is the new black.
-A new pair of square toe boots, preferably in red.
-And a shopping spree at Barnes & Noble, just to name a few.
Did you get all that Mom? (only joking!) We all have a few things on our mind that would definitely make life easier, or we would just be excited to have. That list of materialistic “wants” is very different from the list of things I need. In fact, when I think about it, I already have more than I need.
-A support team of family and friends who are always there for me.
-A roof over my head, a bed to sleep in, and clothes in my closet.
-A dream for my future.
-Gas in my car and food in my fridge.
-Goals to spend my time working towards.
What else is there? At times, when I think of all I don’t have, that second list can seem trivial. In truth, those items are the most important of all. Without them, I would have much bigger problems on my hands. So often we think of what we don’t have, when really, if we just look around us, we would see those aren’t the things that make us happy at all. If I really need a new pair of square toe boots just to make me happy, I am a very uncreative person. If I can only get a job done by having some fancy program on my computer, I am a very ineffective person. There are other ways, if only I use my brain and take the time to find them.
We can choose to focus on the things we do have. By learning to do what we can with what we have, we can see how lucky we really are. We all know the story of the Wizard of Oz (and non-Kansans never let us forget it!) The unlikely friends set off on a journey to find a brain, a heart, courage, and a home. But once they get to the place they think all their dreams will come true, they realize they had what they wanted all along- if only they had known how to look.
Happiness doesn’t come from a store. It comes from realizing the only one who can control our happiness is the one we see when we look in the mirror.
It’s not about getting what we want. It’s about wanting what we’ve got.
