A Crown of Content vs Delusions of Grandeur

 

''My crown is in my heart, not on my head; 

not decked with diamonds and Indian stones,

nor to be seen: my crown is called content,

a crown it is that seldom kings enjoy.'' 

 

- William Shakespeare

 

Not everyone wants to be the king, although it might be fun for a while. As rocker Tom Petty said in his song It’s Good To Be King, ''the world would swing, if I were king.''

However, history has taught us that the deep answers that our souls are hard wired to seek, are not to be found there.

By the end of the song Petty seems to have come to the same conclusion, and that while there may be perks like having anything you want, or a castle by the sea, ultimately one may find the whole charade to be absurd and hollow.

I seek to learn from anyone who is doing, or has done in the case of historical figures, the hard work of ridding themselves of the myths of mainstream culture. 

What a joy to learn from the experience of those who empty their space, and experience pure living there. They know something that is dangerous to the System’s self-serving stories, especially the ones that teach us that power and money represents success, and more of both will make us happier.

It may be good to be queen. You’d have more stuff and influence, but chances are, you would not be happier at your core than any of your lowly subjects. 

I look to those people whose desire is disciplined, and know that our wants must sometimes be sacrificed.

My teachers are those that show me ways to resist the sweet illusions that try to lure me away from a steadfast commitment to my own simpler path.

Here, truth, love, and wisdom can be found, and actively used, to build a better life that is deeply meaningful and wildly unbound.

Inner peace and satisfaction, or the external trappings of life, royal or not, that bring more burden than joy? 

While the consensus across the ages has warned us against lusting after that jewel-encrusted, heavy crown, we continue to ask this already answered question.

I don’t know about you, but I'll take my humble fresh pine-smelling forest wreath of simplicity, adorned with the field flowers of contentment.