Socrates "Quam multa non desidero," inquit.
(Anonymous)

Pron = SOH-krah-tays kwahm MOOL-tah nohn day-sih-DAY-roh IHN-kwit.

Socrates said: How many things there are that I don't want!

Comment: This saying suggests what I think is a good exercise sometimes. It is easy to be swept up in the mental habit of "I want this, I want that." As a kind of meditation exercise, sit for a moment and list the things you don't want.

It won't take many to shift the inner attitude from feeling anxious and a sense of lack to gratitude, or at least relief.

Thich Nhat Hanh makes the observation that we all notice when we have a toothache. How often do we notice that we have a "not toothache"?
So often things seem to sweep us up, to victimize us, but we have to be willing victims. Otherwise, we have some choices to make--like what we don't want, or noticing what is not hurting.

In another powerful observation, Thich Nhat Hanh says: Sometimes our joy is the cause of our smile, but at other times our smile may become the cause of our joy.

Many times, even in the midst of a mess, or a disaster, we can still choose where we want to start.