The things I treasure most in life
No two people’s list of things will ever be the same, but there are certain things most of us treasure, that is, if we have lived a normal, average sort of life, and these things belong to no particular race, color, nation or class. They are the things of value universally accepted by civilized people. The artist may be obsessed by his painting, the writer by his best novel, or the racing motorist by his chances in the Grand Prix, but the man in the street places most value on the simple, ordinary things of life — and almost all of them are, as the saying goes, the things that money cannot buy Perhaps first on the list is a religious faith.
It cannot be denied that religion draws the best qualities out of humanity — in particular those of self-sacrifice, kindness and toleration of others, quite apart from the moral standards it instills. Faith in one’s God is the key to a more profound understanding of life and leads to a genuine love of people. Without it, moral degeneration sets in, and the ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,’ as they come upon us all, cannot be faced. second only to religion comes home and family life.
The home and the loving family are a safe refuge from the coldness and indifference of the outside world. Those near and ear to us provide us with love and encouragement, consolation in times of sorrow, happiness in times of rejoicing. Equally, they help to equip us to face up to the outside world, strengthen our morale, and instill into, us the moral fiber we need when confronted with temptation. ‘A happiness shared is a happiness doubled, a trouble shared is a trouble halved.’
Life, however, is a spoilt if we are dogged by ill health and sickness. Most people are born with good health, and given proper food and clothing when young, develop stamina and resistance to disease. It is often the case that we tend to undervalue or even abuse our health — until we fall sick; and it is then that we begin to realize the priceless possession, physical and mental well-being, really is.
But, none of these personal and domestic things of value count for much, if we are unfortunate enough to live in a country which denies us the basic freedoms o democracy. We should treasure the freedom of our country — which means our personal freedom — and do all we can to preserve it; fight for it, if outside tyranny threatens. Like health, freedom is only truly valued, when it is threatened or lost.
Most of our working hours are spent working for our living and our mental and emotional well-being depends very largely on doing a job we like doing, one which is interesting, exacting and progressive. those whose jobs are satisfying and worthwhile have something to treasure very dearly.
But what is life without good friends? The friendless person may always be suspected of being anti-social or of having serious defects of character. We should value all our social contacts and treasure those people who help to enrich our leisure hours by their conversation and companionship.
Man’s essential difference from the animal world is his sense of a need to rise above his surroundings, to aspire to great heights. No great achievements can come about unless the ambition is there first. We are, not all, gifted with the capacity to write great literature, or make a ‘break through’ in scientific knowledge, or become famous statesmen. Our ambitions may indeed be very modest, but every human being worthy of the name has ambitions of a sort, and these are very near to his heart — or hers.
For most of us, the occupation we enjoy best is the choice of our leisure hours, rather than the job we are paid to do, and even if the latter means the most to us, our leisure hours will be very poor if they are not filled with one or two absorbing activities. These ‘hobbies’ may be in the sphere of the arts, or in politics, or in sport, social clubs or societies, and to most people they mean a very great deal.
These are the things, I treasure most in life. They have nothing to do with large bank balances, beautiful houses, foreign travel, valuable possessions, expensive motor-cars. Perhaps they are not even fashionable. But to me, life would be insipid indeed without them.
