Can you really imagine having no possessions?
I ENJOYED reading the write-up by Chris Jones ("Why John Lennon's vision is becoming a reality", February 23).
Chris made us aware of how people (including myself) have become attached to goods and chattels even when not required.
All this made me remember my youth when, having only the clothes on my back, I had to grow up, get married and create a home with all that was needed for a family. Electrical goods of all descriptions are changed by us when they go out of date and the manufacturers are quick to try to give us a push by introducing some gimmick to help the desire factor.
Many youngsters of today will contemplate following the same path and, in doing so, will probably collect more DVDs, videos, mobile phones, iPods, computers, furniture and other goodies etc more so than I have done. Sitting here, I now realise all the objects I have collected, whether created out of necessity, given by family or friends, or purchased by ourselves when on holiday, are all around me.
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Should I, though, get rid? I think not, they are memories and are there to enjoy.
Should I consider buying less? Most certainly, it makes for common sense to save the world's resources and do whatever is necessary to help do this. However, we must not forget people throughout the ages have travelled the world to obtain a better life and still do. They will travel to the other side of the world and will sacrifice their lives to run away from poverty.
It follows, therefore, if we have good health and warmth in this England of ours, and a living standard sufficient to make us feel happy, little more is required.
However, John Lennon's statement in his song – imagine no possessions – has given me food for thought.
Imagine living on the breadline and being informed you were going to be allowed less. Imagine being a down-and-out with only a cardboard box and a grubby blanket on a cold night.
Imagine living in a Middle Eastern country having had all your possessions, possibly even your family, destroyed and found yourself minus a limb.
With these thoughts in mind, it does make one wonder whether the words of the song sound a little hollow. Can anyone imagine having no possessions ?
E G Redfern
The Green
Allestree
Comments
by oscardoodle
Saturday, March 02 2013, 8:08AM
“Yes, I can imagine it.
Back in 2000, circumstances led to me having to rent a flat in a house that had been converted into 4 flats- a large property in Normanton.
I had only been there a week when I returned from work to find that the flat had been burgled. Well, when | say burgled, I mean emptied. Apart from the furniture, any item that could be sold was taken- apart from the obvious items such as TV, video, records, Cd's tapes etc, all of my cutlery,clothes,plates,pots,pans- everything I took in had gone apart from the clothes I was wearing. Even my photo album had gone. Probably all sold off for drugs.
The police said it was obviously an inside job, and strangely none of the neighbours knew anything. I was given a crime number for reference and that was it.
Since that day, I 'don't do stuff'. I don't crave the latest gadgets, hanker for expensive bling or clothes, I just take pleasure in the simple things and am thankful for being allowed to wake up every morning. When I get a bit of money together, it's for an experience- maybe a holiday somewhere unique, or I'll go fly a plane or a copter- anything that gives you a memory, since memories are difficult to burgle and sell on. I remember overhearing someone say that they'd dropped their new phone down the toilet. You'd have thought by their voice that a close relative had died.”