The Capitalistic Heart

This past week a particular tear-your-façade-off-and-see-who-you-really-are type of question has been challenging the way I see myself and the world around me.

Do I have a Capitalistic Heart?

Before explaining myself further, I would like to point out that this is by no means a political term, at least in the way that I am thinking of it. Communism, capitalism, socialism, and other economic systems have their pros and cons, blah blah blah. They’re all trying to create prosperity in their own way and they’re all succeeding and failing to some degree, I suppose.

The Alex definition of the “Capitalistic Heart” is: If You Have, I Cannot.

If you get a raise, I cannot.

If you have wonderful experiences traveling the world, I cannot.

If you have a dream job that also allows you to live comfortably, I cannot.

If you get likes on social media, I cannot.

If people think you’re funny/beautiful/smart, I cannot be considered those things.

If you do really fun things on the weekend, I cannot.

If you have enough resources to buy a house, move to your dream town, or buy a brand- new mountain bike, I cannot.

I thought this picture of Jackson worshiping the trees in Kauai seemed the most appropriate for this topic? 

The Capitalistic Heart believes that there are winners and losers. The Capitalistic Heart thinks that someone else’s happiness will taint and diminish their own. The Capitalistic Heart will not share because then there is not enough for oneself. Maybe I am the only person with this kind of dirty laundry, but I find myself thinking this in the very secret crevices of my soul. Sometimes I even find myself putting others down in my head, because hello! I have to win sometimes too! There can’t be too people in the world who truly love the outdoors, wear DI clothes, and ride their bikes everywhere. Everybody else must be some kind of fraud.

Ewww. I hate myself just writing this pile of rotting Baboon crap down.

Maybe this is why poverty is the unconquerable enemy of this world? Is this why the sad and lonely look for validation in vain? Does this explain why people are dissatisfied when they see others being happy? Maybe poverty and equality isn’t really about politics, policies, and programs? (Did anyone see my intentional alliteration??) Light bulb! What if all of these nasty byproducts of society really originate from the Capitalistic Heart in all of us?

Doctor’s Prescription for Eliminating the Capitalistic Heart: However cliché and obvious this message may be, it all comes down to love. There is enough happiness acreage on earth and heaven above for everyone to make their own little homestead. So I am going to try a little harder to be a little better at loving others enough to want their happiness. I want people to succeed at their dreams! I want them to enjoy the wonderful lifestyle I have, which means I will be willing to give, validate, and sacrifice for others. I want others to have enough to live comfortably and I want to believe that that is possible for everyone. And I hope I never forget that. How shameful it would be to have enough to share, only to hoard it for myself in an effort to win the non-existent Happiness Race. In the words of Grace Noell Crowell, "because I have been given much, I too must give." 

And now I don't know how to end today's edition of Free Advice You Didn't Ask For...

Peace, Love, Chicken Nuggets?

My own little acre of happiness