the bittersweet irony

​To be totally honest with you, since I stopped drinking and partying over 9 years ago I could not care less about fashion, makeup, holidays, such as Halloween and Christmas. The very last time I wore makeup, was at my yoga graduation 7 years ago, where my friend suggested putting it on me. So those who really know me these pasts years, know that I don’t care much about appearances, materialism, or holidays. 
*But when I first do care, is for the quality, history, and investment,
such as I find in a few brands.

People nowadays celebrate traditions mostly for the fun,
for gifts and for money.
The provider does of course not care whether is your tradition or not, they are just happy for all the profits and extra sales to be made… with all the days there are to celebrate, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, children’s day, valentines days, etc. The more days the merrier!

And now, I am in this bittersweet irony of life, due to having to find a new way to provide for my family and our many animals, I have to try to sell something online, since COVID-19, the physical world is somewhat risky, and I observe myself thinking: “Oh, it’s soon Halloween, time to make something related to Halloween that I can sell”, whereas I normally really would laugh at the point at that I myself once used to celebrate Halloween, just for the party, and never really understood nor cared why we actually celebrate Halloween. 

All of our traditions, holidays, and free days are there many of us that really know the history or reasons why one’s celebrates it or teaches our children about it?  This might be a sensitive topic for many, as for them, the biggest events and gatherings in their lives are around these traditions, so I know that I am stepping on many toes with my post, but I do with awareness, and honest reflections in mind, are all this just what we say in Buddhism, Maya, illusions? Superficial desires?

But then you may ask what’s wrong with it? 

Nothing. Nothing’s wrong with all this when it’s something that makes you and others genuinely happy. When you spend money with awareness and kindness for each other in hearts.
All that is done with awareness and good intentions, that only is for the better, there’s nothing wrong with that. So every holiday's traditions etc, nothing wrong with them, but are we practicing them with awareness? Do you attend just to have fun, get drunk, get what you want, or just because society expects you to? Or do you attend with awareness, understandings and appreciation for the traditions, history, and meaning?

Back to be bittersweet irony, here I am, trying to go against my own nature to provide for my family and horses. Perhaps life brought me to this point to make me stand on the other side and understand from the other’s side of view once again…

But by knowing this truth in my heart, true lasting happiness is not found in beautiful clothes, jewelry, faces, or items.

​True happiness is when you can free yourself from all that and be happy with what you got. For true value and importance in life is not what you´ve got, but what good have you done and given to others.